Cells and Heredity, Chapter 3 Genetics

Flashcards for vocabulary from Chapter 3: Genetics, covering key terms related to inheritance, genetic crosses, and molecular biology.

heredity

The passing of traits from parents to their offspring.

recessive allele

An allele that is masked when a dominant allele is present.

codominance

A condition in which both alleles for a gene are fully expressed in a heterozygote.

trait

A specific characteristic that an organism can pass to its offspring through its genes.

hybrid

An organism that has two different alleles for a trait; a heterozygote.

meiosis

The process that occurs in sex cells (gametes) by which the number of chromosomes is reduced by half.

genetics

The scientific study of heredity.

probability

The likelihood that a particular event will occur.

messenger RNA

An RNA molecule that carries copies of instructions for the assembly of amino acids into proteins from DNA to the rest of the cell.

fertilization

The process in sexual reproduction in which male and female reproductive cells join to form a new cell.

Punnett square

A chart that shows all the possible combinations of alleles that can result from a genetic cross.

transfer RNA

An RNA molecule that carries amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis.

purebred

An organism that is the offspring of many generations that have the same traits; homozygous.

phenotype

An organism's physical appearance, or visible traits.

gene

A segment of DNA on a chromosome that codes for a specific trait.

genotype

An organism's genetic makeup, or allele combinations.

alleles

The different forms of a gene.

dominant allele

An allele whose trait always shows up in the organism when the allele is present.

homozygous

Having two identical alleles for a particular gene.

heterozygous

Having two different alleles for a particular gene.