Genetics: What Controls Traits and Modeling Inheritance

Vocabulary flashcards covering cellular genetics, inheritance mechanisms, genotypes, phenotypes, and Punnett squares from Chapter 5 Lesson 2.

Chromosomes

Thread-like structures located inside each cell's nucleus that contain genetic information controlling traits and exist in pairs, with one chromosome inherited from each parent.

Gene

A section on a chromosome that has genetic information for one trait.

Alleles

The different forms of a gene (for example, purple alleles or white alleles in pea plants).

Phenotype

How a trait appears, or is expressed; known as an organism's physical appearance (for example, brown eyes).

Genotype

The two alleles that control the phenotype of a trait; the unseen genetic code of an organism.

Homozygous

A genotype description describing when the two alleles of a gene are the same (for example, $RR$ or $rr$).

Heterozygous

A genotype description describing when the two alleles of a gene are different (for example, $Rr$).

Punnett Square

A model used to predict the possible genotypes and phenotypes of offspring if the genotypes of the parents are known.