Biology vocab

genetics

the study of genes and how traits are passed down from one generation to the next

genome

the complete set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or organism

chromosome

long threads of DNA and are located in the nucleus of every cell

gene

the code or blueprints for all the functions of every cell in the body and the characteristics that make each organism different. They are the plans to build individual organisms.

DNA

a complex molecule containing all genetic information

Mitosis

a type of cell division done by your body cells in order to grow and heal

meiosis

a type of cell division done by your sex cells in order to reproduce

heredity

the passing on of physical or mental characteristics genetically from one generation to another

genotype

the genetic constitution of an individual organism

phenotype

the set of observable characteristics of an individual resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment

cell

the smallest unit of life that makes up all living organisms and the tissues of the body

genetic code

a set of instructions that direct the translation of DNA into amino acids and proteins

mutation

a change in genetic material of a cell, from a base error to alternation of whole chromosomes

nucleotide

a compound consisting of a nucleoside linked to a phosphate group. Nucleotides form the basic structural unit of nucleic acids such as DNA

gamete

the reproductive cell of an animal or plant

fertilisation

the fusion of gametes to form a zygote and initiate its development into a new individual organism or offspring

punnett square

a table in which all of the possible outcomes for a genetic cross between two individuals with known genotypes are given

inheritance

the way that genetic information is passed from a parent to a child

biotechnology

the use of biology to solve problems and make useful products

heterozygous

having two different alleles for a specific gene

homozygous

having two of the same alleles for a specific gene

evolution

the process by which different kinds of living organisms are believed to have developed from earlier forms during the history of the earth

natural selection

the process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring

fossil

he remains or impression of a prehistoric plant or animal embedded in rock and preserved in petrified form

embryo

an unborn or unhatched offspring in the process of development

the law of superposition

the principle that within a sequence of layers of sedimentary rock, the oldest layer is at the base and that the layers are progressively younger with ascending order in the sequence

pedigree

the genetic representation of a family tree that diagrams the inheritance of a trait or disease through several generations

dominant trait

a genetic characteristic in an organism that has the ability to be expressed even when only one copy of the gene responsible for that trait is present and to mask the effect of a recessive gene. It can be expressed in both heterozygous and homozygous genotypes

recessive trait

a genetic characteristic that can only be expressed when an organism has two copies of the allele for that trait and can be masked by a dominant allele. It can only be expressed in homozygous genotypes but can be carries in heterozygous genotypes.

mutagen

things that cause mutations

polypeptide

chain of amino acids

protein

a molecule made up of amino acids

autosomal

a specific gene that is not on a sex chromosome and is a numbered chromosome

sex-linked

characteristics influenced by genes carried on the sex chromosomes

homologous pairs

set of one maternal and one paternal chromosome that pair up with each other inside a cell during meiosis. These chromosomes:

• are roughly the same length

• have the same centromere point

• contain the same type of gene

homologous structure

similar physical features in organisms that share a common ancestor but have functional differences.