Bio Definitions (checked by teacher)

Off-Spring

The new living organisms produced by one or more parents through the process of reproduction

Proteins

Large and complex molecules made of long chain/s of amino acids

Cross-Over

The biological process where matching chromosomes swap pieces of DNA with each other during cell division meiosis.

Gametes

A reproductive sex cell (ova/egg and sperm in animals) - it contains half the normal number of chromosomes - it fuses with another gamete during fertilisation to create a new organism

Asexual Reproduction

The biological process where a single parent creates offspring without the fusion of sex cells/gametes - the offspring are a genetic clone of their parent

Sexual Reproduction

The biological process where two parents combine their genetic material to create a unique offspring

Pure Breeding

A process where parents with identical homozygous genes mate to consistently produce offspring with the exact same observable trait

Amino Acids (ATCG)

The raw chemical building blocks that link together to form proteins

Natural Selection

The scientific process where organisms with traits best suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce

Inbreeding

The mating or reproduction between closely related individuals

Interbreeding

When organisms from different groups, or closely related species, reproduce and mix their genetic material

Gene

The basic physical and functional unit of heredity (genes determine biological traits passed down from parents to offspring) made up of a specific sequence of DNA. Genes act as instructions to make molecules called proteins

DNA

The microscopic molecule that carries the genetic instructions used in the growth, development, functioning, and reproduction of all living organisms; has a double helix shape, made up of a long string of nucleotides

Phenotype/Traits

The observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism, determined by both its genotype and environmental factors.

Genotype

An organism's allele combination or genetic makeup for a specific trait

Allele

A version/varient of a gene (represented as uppercase for dominant and lowercase for recessive)

Mitosis

The cell division process that produces two identical body/somatic cells

Meosis

The cell division process that produces four unique haploid (cells with half the chromosomes) gametes

Mutation

The permanent random alteration in the nucleotide of the organism's DNA

Fittness

An organism's ability to survive, reproduce, and pass on its genes to the next generation.

Evolution

The change in inherited allele frequencies within a population over successive generations.

Genetic Variation/gene pool

The diversity of different alleles and genotypes present within a population.

Adaption

An inherited trait that enhances an organism's survival in its environment.

Dominant

An allele that masks the presence of another allele and is fully expressed in the phenotype.

Recessive

An allele whose phenotypic expression is hidden unless homozygous.

Homozygos

Having two identical alleles for a specific gene (AA).

Heterozygous

Having two different alleles for a specific gene (Aa)

Sperm Cell + Ova/Egg Cells

Specialized haploid reproductive cells (gametes) that fuse during fertilization to form a diploid zygote

Cell

The structural, functional, and biological building block of all organisms

Punnet Squares + Pedigree Charts

Grids and charts used to calculate and predict or track the inheritance of a specific trait

Chromosomes

Structures composed of DNA and proteins that carry genetic information

Inheritance

The biological transmission of genetic traits/instructions from parents to their offspring

Selective Pressure

The environmental factors that reduce reproductive success in certain phenotypes and drive natural selection

Population Bottleneck

A sharp reduction in population size caused by environmental events and drastically shrinking genetic diversity

Genetic marker

A known section of DNA that is common to a species