Mendel, Genes, and Inheritance

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to Mendel's theories of inheritance and genetics.

Blending Theory of Inheritance

The theory that hereditary traits are mixed evenly in offspring through the mixing of parents' blood, which fails to explain certain patterns of inheritance.

Gregor Mendel

The founder of modern genetics, known for using the scientific method to study inheritance in pea plants.

Principle of Segregation

The principle stating that two alleles of a gene segregate (separate) and enter gametes singly.

Homozygous

An organism having two identical alleles for a particular gene.

Heterozygous

An organism having two different alleles for a particular gene.

Genotype

The genetic constitution of an organism, representing the alleles present.

Phenotype

The outward characteristics or traits of an organism resulting from the genotype.

Probability of Independent Events

The product of the individual probabilities of two independent events occurring in succession.

Testcross

A genetic cross between an individual with an unknown genotype and a homozygous recessive individual to determine the unknown genotype.

Dihybrid Cross

A cross between individuals that differ in two traits, demonstrating the Principle of Independent Assortment.

Codominance

A genetic scenario in which different alleles of a gene have equal effects in heterozygotes.

Pleiotropy

The phenomenon where a single gene affects multiple traits or characteristics in an organism.