Mendelian Genetics

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from Mendelian genetics, including definitions of important terms and laws.

Mendelian inheritance

A type of inheritance where traits are determined by discrete units or 'particles' (genes) as opposed to blending inheritance.

Punnett square

A grid used to predict the genotypic and phenotypic outcomes of genetic crosses.

Genotype

The genetic make-up of an organism.

Phenotype

An organism’s expressed physical traits, usually determined by its genotype.

Allele

Alternate forms of a gene that can exist at a specific locus on a chromosome.

Homozygous

An organism that has two identical alleles for a particular trait.

Heterozygous

An organism that has two different alleles for a particular trait.

Dominant allele

The allele that expresses its phenotype even when paired with a recessive allele.

Recessive allele

The allele that is only expressed when paired with another recessive allele.

Law of segregation

Mendel's first law which states that the two alleles for a trait separate during gamete formation.

Law of independent assortment

Mendel's second law which states that alleles of different genes assort independently of one another during gamete formation.

True-breeding

Organisms that, when self-fertilized, produce offspring identical to the parent.

Trait

A variant for a characteristic, such as flower color (e.g., purple or white).

Test cross

A genetic cross used to determine the genotype of an individual by crossing it with a homozygous recessive individual.

Wild type

The most common form of a trait found in nature.

Filial generation (F1, F2)

Generations of offspring from a genetic cross; F1 is the first generation, F2 is the second.

Genotypic ratio

The ratio of different genotypes in the offspring.

Phenotypic ratio

The ratio of different phenotypes in the offspring.

Meiotic recombination

The process during meiosis where chromosomes exchange segments, leading to genetic diversity in offspring.

Asexual reproduction

A mode of reproduction that results in genetically identical offspring, or clones.

Mendel's hypotheses

Theories proposed by Mendel, including the idea of discrete hereditary units (genes) and the laws of inheritance.