chromosome
a X-shaped structure that holds a wound-up strand of DNA
gene
A segment of DNA on a chromosome that codes for a specific trait
genetics
The branch of science that studies how characteristics get passed from parent to offspring
inherit
to receive traits from parents
heredity
the passing of genetic traits from parent to offspring
Gregor Mendel
Monk and botanist whose experiments in breeding garden peas led to his eventual recognition as founder of the science of genetics
allele
the letters that represent different forms of a gene
heterozygous
having two different alleles for a trait
homozygous
having two identical alleles for a trait
hybrid
a synonym for heterozygous
purebred
a synonym for homozygous
Punnett Square
a chart that shows all the possible combinations of alleles that can result from a genetic cross
egg
female sex cell
sperm
male sex cell
sex cell
An egg or sperm cell; a sex cell carries half the number of chromosomes found in other body cells.
dominant
trait that will show up in an organism's phenotype if gene is present
recessive
trait that will only appear in the phenotype if organism inherits two of them; covered up by the dominant gene
trait
a physical characteristic that an organism can pass on to its offspring through its genes
offspring
children
genotype
an organism's genetic makeup, or allele combinations
phenotype
an organism's physical appearance, or visible traits
chromosome
a X-shaped structure that holds a wound-up strand of DNA
gene
A segment of DNA on a chromosome that codes for a specific trait
genetics
The branch of science that studies how characteristics get passed from parent to offspring
inherit
to receive traits from parents
heredity
the passing of genetic traits from parent to offspring
Gregor Mendel
Monk and botanist whose experiments in breeding garden peas led to his eventual recognition as founder of the science of genetics
allele
the letters that represent different forms of a gene
heterozygous
having two different alleles for a trait
homozygous
having two identical alleles for a trait
hybrid
a synonym for heterozygous
purebred
a synonym for homozygous
Punnett Square
a chart that shows all the possible combinations of alleles that can result from a genetic cross
egg
female sex cell
sperm
male sex cell
sex cell
An egg or sperm cell; a sex cell carries half the number of chromosomes found in other body cells.
dominant
trait that will show up in an organism's phenotype if gene is present
recessive
trait that will only appear in the phenotype if organism inherits two of them; covered up by the dominant gene
trait
a physical characteristic that an organism can pass on to its offspring through its genes
offspring
children
genotype
an organism's genetic makeup, or allele combinations
phenotype
an organism's physical appearance, or visible traits