Genetics Bio Quiz

gamete

sex cell.

somatic

cell a cell that isn't involved in reproduction.

haploid

A cell that contains only a single set of genes.

diploid

A cell that contains both sets of homologous chromosomes.

homologous chromosomes

Chromosomes in which one set comes from the male parent and one set comes from the female parent.

meiosis

Process in which the number of chromosomes per cell is cut in half through separation of homologous chromosomes in a diploid cell.

crossing over

Process in which homologous chromosomes exchange portions of their chromatids during meiosis.

allele

One of a number of different forms of a gene.

homozygous

Having two identical alleles for a particular gene.

heterozygous

Having two different alleles for a particular gene.

genotype

Genetic makeup of an organism.

phenotype

Physical characteristics of an organism.

dominant

A form of an allele that overpowers a recessive gene.

recessive

A form of an allele that is overpowered by dominant alleles.

Punnett Square

Diagram that can be used to predict the genotype and phenotype combinations of a genetic cross.

gene

Sequence of DNA that codes for a protein and thus determines a trait; factor that is passed from parent to offspring.

autosomes

Chromosome that is not a sex chromosome; also called autosomal chromosome.

sex chromosomes

One of two chromosomes that determines an individual's sex.