Unit 4 Genetics Summative Review (OL)

Gene

A segment of DNA that codes for a specific trait.

Chromosome

A structure within cells that contains DNA organized into genes.

Allele

Different forms of a gene that can exist

Gamete

A type of cell that has half the number of chromosomes needed for reproduction and joins with another gamete to make a new individual; sex cell

Karyotype

A profile of an individual's chromosomes, showing the number and structure of chromosomes.

Homozygous

Having two identical alleles for a specific gene.

Heterozygous

Having two different alleles for a specific gene.

Dominant allele

An allele that expresses its trait even in the presence of a recessive allele.

Recessive allele

An allele that expresses its trait only in the absence of a dominant allele.

Monohybrid cross

A genetic cross that examines the inheritance of a single trait.

Pedigree

A diagram that shows the occurrence of a genetic trait in several generations of a family, helping to track inheritance patterns.

Sexual reproduction

A type of reproduction involving two parents who combine their genetic material to produce diverse/different offspring.

Asexual reproduction

A type of reproduction involving only one parent that produces genetically identical offspring.

Traits

Characteristics that are inherited from parents to offspring.

Acquired traits

Traits that are not passed down genetically but developed from environmental influences.

Dominance

The relationship between alleles in which one allele masks the effect of another.

Codominance

A situation in which both alleles are expressed equally in the phenotype.

Selective Breeding (Artificial Selection)

The process where humans choose specific plants or animals to mate based on desired traits.

Natural Selection

The natural process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce more than others.

Reasons for Selective Breeding

People selectively breed to enhance specific qualities, such as disease resistance, size, or color in plants and animals.