Modern Understanding of Inheritance

These flashcards cover key terminology and concepts related to modern genetics and inheritance, providing definitions and explanations for effective exam preparation.

Gregor Mendel

Father of genetics known for his work on plant hybridization which laid the foundation for the field of genetics.

Chromosomes

Threadlike structures within the nucleus that contain DNA and serve as repositories for genetic information.

Chromosomal Theory of Inheritance

Theory stating that chromosomes carry the unit of heredity (genes) developed by Walter Sutton and Theodor Boveri.

Nondisjunction

The failure of homologous chromosomes or sister chromatids to separate properly during cell division, leading to abnormal chromosome numbers.

Trisomy 21

A genetic disorder caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21, commonly known as Down's Syndrome.

Karyotype

An image showing the number and appearance of chromosomes in a cell, used for diagnosing genetic disorders.

Sex Chromosomes

Chromosomes that determine the sex of an organism; in humans, these are the X and Y chromosomes.

Autosomes

Non-sex chromosomes that control inheritance of all an organism's characteristics except the sex-linked ones.

Alleles

Different forms of a gene found at the same locus on homologous chromosomes.

Locus

The specific physical location of a gene on a chromosome, often referred to as a genetic street address.

Polyploidy

Condition in which an organism has more than two complete sets of chromosomes, common in plants.

Epigenetics

The study of how environmental factors influence genetic expression without altering the DNA sequence.