AP Biology Unit 5 - Heredity

Genes

DNA segments that serve as the key functional units in hereditary transmission.

Gametes

reproductive cells

sexual reproduction

A reproductive process that involves two parents that combine their genetic material to produce a new organism, which differs from both parents

somatic cells

any cell of a living organism other than the reproductive cells.

Karyotype

A display of the chromosome pairs of a cell arranged by size and shape.

homologous chromosomes (homologs)

in a diploid organism, chromosomes that are similar in size, shape, and gene content

Autosomes

Chromosomes that are not directly involved in determining the sex of an individual.

Meiosis

Cell division that produces reproductive cells in sexually reproducing organisms

Fertilization

Process in sexual reproduction in which male and female reproductive cells join to form a new cell

Zygote

a diploid cell resulting from the fusion of two haploid gametes; a fertilized ovum.

Diploid (2n)

two copies of each chromosome

Haploid (1n)

one copy of each chromosome

daughter cells

the cells that result from a cell division

Meiosis 1

separates homologous chromosomes

Meiosis 2

sister chromatids separate