Genetics and Non-Mendelian Inheritance Vocabulary

30 vocabulary flashcards covering basic genetics rules, recombination, trait types, non-Mendelian inheritance, and organellar genetics.

Product rule

Rule stating that the probability of two independent events occurring together is equal to the product of their individual probabilities.

Sum rule

Rule stating that the probability of occurrence of any one of two mutually exclusive events is the sum of their individual probabilities.

Homologous recombination

A type of genetic recombination in which nucleotide sequences are exchanged between two similar or identical molecules of DNA.

Crossing over

The process during meiosis where homologous chromosomes exchange segments of genetic material.

Quantitative Trait

A phenotypic characteristic that exhibits continuous variation across a spectrum and is influenced by multiple genetic and environmental factors.

Quantitative Traits

Measurable phenotypes that show continuous variation rather than discrete categories.

Quantitative Trait Loci

Specific regions of DNA containing genes that contribute to the phenotypic variation of a quantitative trait.

Quantitative Trait Locus

A single chromosomal region or segment of DNA linked to variation in a quantitative trait.

Complex Trait

A trait whose phenotypic expression is governed by multiple genetic and environmental factors rather than a single gene.

Complex Traits

Phenotypes that do not exhibit simple Mendelian inheritance due to polygenic and environmental contributions.

Non-mendelian Inheritance patterns

Patterns of inheritance that do not segregate according to Mendel's traditional laws of inheritance.

Non-mendelian Inheritance

The transmission of traits that fail to conform to classical Mendelian principles.

Epistasis

An interaction between genes where the phenotypic expression of one gene masks or modifies the allele at another locus.

Epistatic interaction

A genetic relationship in which the phenotypic effect of one gene depends on the presence of modifier genes at another locus.

Multiple allelism

The condition of having three or more alternative allele forms of a gene present within a population.

Multiple alleles

Three or more variant forms of a gene that exist at a single locus within a population.

Codominance

A pattern of inheritance in which two different alleles at a locus are fully and equally expressed in the phenotype.

Codominant expression

Simultaneous and equal phenotypic expression of both alleles in a heterozygous individual.

Uniparental inheritance

An inheritance pattern where extranuclear or organellar genes are inherited strictly from one parent.

Maternal inheritance

A type of uniparental inheritance in which progeny inherit organelles and their genetic material solely from the female parent.

Mitochondria

Cellular organelles responsible for energy production that contain their own non-nuclear DNA genome.

Mitochondrial DNA

The circular DNA molecule present inside mitochondria that encodes specific organelle components.

Chloroplast

A plant cell organelle that carries out photosynthesis and contains its own distinct DNA genome.

Chloroplast DNA

The circular genetic material found within chloroplasts that encodes photosynthetic and organelle functions.

mtDNA

Abbreviation for mitochondrial DNA, which is inherited maternally in many eukaryotic organisms.

cpDNA

Abbreviation for chloroplast DNA, which contains genes essential for chloroplast function and photosynthesis.

cytoplasmic segregation

The random distribution of cytoplasmically inherited organelles and their genomes to daughter cells during division.

Cytoplasmic Inheritance

Transmission of genetic information through cytoplasmically located organelles like mitochondria and chloroplasts.

Organellar Inheritance

Inheritance of genes located in cytoplasmic organelles rather than the cell nucleus.

Organellar DNA

Extranuclear genetic material contained within organelles such as mitochondria (mtDNA) or chloroplasts (cpDNA).