Mendel and Genetic Inheritance

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to Mendelian genetics and genetic inheritance.

Codon

A sequence of three nucleotides of DNA or RNA that encodes for a particular amino acid.

Start Codon

The first codon in transcribed mRNA, always AUG, coding for methionine (Met).

Stop Codon

A codon that signals the termination of protein synthesis; UAA, UAG, and UGA.

Degeneracy of Codons

more than one codon can code for the same amino acid

Protein structure

Altering a codon -> Alters amino acid -> Alters primary structure -> Alters
structure of protein -> Alters functionality of protein

Missense Mutation

A single nucleotide change that results in a different amino acid, altering the structure of the protein.

Nonsense Mutation

A mutation that introduces a premature stop codon, resulting in truncated protein synthesis.

Silent Mutation

A single nucleotide change that does not alter the amino acid produced.

Frameshift Mutation

Insertion or deletion of nucleotides not in multiples of three, disrupting the reading frame of the gene.

Transposable Elements

Segments of DNA that can move within a genome and alter the phenotype.

Diploid

Organisms that contain two copies of each gene.

Genotype

The genetic makeup of an individual; the alleles present for a particular trait.

Phenotype

The observable traits of an individual, resulting from the expression of the genotype.

Dominant Allele

An allele that masks the expression of another allele when present.

Recessive Allele

An allele that is masked by the presence of a dominant allele; expressed only in its absence.

Homozygous

Having two identical alleles for a particular gene.

Heterozygous

Having two different alleles for a particular gene.

Mendel's Principle of Segregation

Pairs of alleles separate during gamete formation so that each gamete carries only one allele for each gene.

Mendel's Principle of Independent Assortment

Alleles of different traits are inherited independently of one another.

Incompleted Dominance

A situation where heterozygotes display an intermediate phenotype.

Codominance

A form of inheritance in which both alleles contribute to the phenotype of the organism.

Multiple Allelism

The existence of more than two alleles at a locus in a population.

Epistasis

A gene at one locus can mask the effects of a gene at another locus.

Polygenic Inheritance

Traits controlled by multiple genes, leading to a continuous distribution of phenotypes.

Pleiotropy

A single gene affecting multiple phenotypic traits.