Heritability Vocab

Meiosis

cell division process that produces 4 cells with half of the chromosome

Mitosis

cell division process that produces 2 identical cells

Diploid

2 copies of every chromosome

Homologous chromosomes

code for the same genes

Crossing over

part of one chromosome becomes part of another

Haploid

copy of each chromosome

Pedigree

genetic charts that used to track specific traits in a family

Unaffected

when a person does not have a genetic disorder and has no alleles for it

Carrier

when a person has 1 genetic disorder allele, they do not have the disorder (recessive disorder)

Affected

when a person has the genetic disorder

Alleles

specific sequence of DNA at the specific gene location

Heterozygous

one dominant allele and one recessive allele

Homozygous

both alleles are the same (both dominant or both recessive)

Genotype

genetic makeup of a person; gene you could get from the egg and sperm

Phenotype

physical characteristic determined by genotype

Punnett square

used to predict the probability of allele combinations in zygotes

Polydactyly

genetic condition that adds extra digits (fingers/toes)

Gametes

a reproductive cell of an animal or plant

Recessive

a type of allele that when present on its own will not affect the individual, you need two to make a difference

Dominant

a version of a gene that is expressed in an organism’s phenotype when only one of that allele is present, overpowers the recessive allele