Genetics and Hereditary Quiz

Trait

Trait

A characteristic or quality that distinguishes an individual. Traits can be physical, such as eye color, or behavioral, like being introverted.

Hereditary

refers to the passing of traits from parents to offspring through genetic information carried in the form of DNA. It determines physical characteristics, behaviors, and susceptibility to diseases.

Allele

A variant form of a gene that can result in different traits or characteristics in an organism. It is located on a specific position on a chromosome.

Gene

A unit of heredity that is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring.

Dominant Allele

A genetic variant that is expressed when present, masking the effect of a recessive allele. It is denoted by a capital letter in genetics.

Recessive Allele

An allele that is masked when a dominant allele is present. It is only expressed when an individual has two copies of the recessive allele.

Heterozygous

Having two different alleles for trait (Hh)

Homozygous

Has the same allele for a trait (hh, HH)

Phenotype

Refers to the observable Characteristic of an organism resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment. (Blue eyes)

Genotype

Refers to the genetic makeup of an organism, representing the specific combination of alleles for a particular trait or gene. It determines the characteristics and traits of an individual. (Two white alleles WW)