Genetics and Inheritance Terminology

Flashcards created to help understand key concepts of genetics and inheritance terminology.

Gene

Segments of DNA that code for proteins.

Alleles

Various forms of a gene.

Locus

The location of a gene on a chromosome.

Diploid

Organisms that inherit two alleles for every trait, one from each parent.

Gamete

A reproductive cell that carries alleles and combines during fertilization.

Zygote

Fertilized egg resulting from the combination of alleles from both parents.

Genotype

The genetic constitution of an individual, represented by pairs of letters.

Phenotype

The expression of traits or genotypes in an individual.

Homozygous

Having two identical alleles for a trait (e.g., AA or aa).

Heterozygous

Having two different alleles for a trait (e.g., Aa).

Dominant allele

An allele that masks the expression of a recessive allele.

Recessive allele

An allele that is only expressed when both alleles are recessive.

Incomplete dominance

A form of inheritance in which neither allele is dominant, resulting in an intermediate trait.

Codominance

A form of inheritance where both alleles are expressed in the phenotype.

X-linked gene

A gene whose allele is located on the X chromosome.

Independent assortment

The random distribution of alleles during gamete formation in meiosis.

'Whatsit' creature

A hypothetical creature used in experiments to study genetic inheritance, featuring three traits.