Punnett Squares

Gregor Mendel

Known as the father of genetics; an Austrian monk who studied inheritance from 1856 to 1863.

Law of Dominance

states that one allele can mask the expression of another allele

Law of Segregation

states that allele pairs separate during the formation of gametes

Homozygous

two identical alleles for a particular gene; can be homozygous dominant (AA) or homozygous recessive (aa)

Heterozygous

two different alleles for a particular gene; represented as Aa

Meiosis

type of cell division that produces gametes, resulting in daughter cells with half the DNA of the parent cells

Mitosis

cell division that produces body/somatic cells with the same DNA as the parent cell, used for growth and repair

Punnett Square

diagram used to predict the genotypes of a genetic cross

Gametes

reproductive cells produced by meiosis that contain half the genetic material of the parent

Somatic Cells

body cells produced by mitosis that have the same DNA as the parent cell