Genetics and Inheritance

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to genetics and inheritance as discussed in the lecture notes.

Punnett Square

A simple diagram used to predict the probability of an offspring inheriting particular traits.

Allele

A variant form of a gene that determines a trait.

Dominant

A strong allele that always shows up if present.

Recessive

A weaker allele that will show up only if no dominant allele is present.

Homozygous

Having two identical alleles for a trait, such as AA or aa.

Heterozygous

Having two different alleles for a trait, such as Aa.

Genotype

The genetic makeup of an organism regarding a certain trait.

Phenotype

The outward physical appearance of an organism.

Cystic Fibrosis

A recessive genetic disorder causing mucus buildup in lungs and digestive system.

PKU (Phenylketonuria)

A recessive condition where the body is missing an enzyme to break down phenylalanine.

Sickle Cell Anemia

A genetic disorder that causes misshapen blood cells affecting blood flow.

Huntington's Disease

A dominant condition leading to muscle deterioration, often showing symptoms in mid-adulthood.

Codominance

A genetic scenario where both alleles are equally dominant and both traits are expressed.

Sex-linked Traits

Traits that are associated with genes located on sex chromosomes, often affecting males more.

Color Blindness

An X-linked recessive condition that affects the ability to perceive color differences.

Hemophilia

An X-linked recessive disorder that slows blood clotting.

Mutation

A change in the RNA or DNA code that may affect protein synthesis.

Pedigree

A chart that shows the genetic history of a family and tracks inheritance patterns through generations.

Silent Mutation

A mutation that results in no change to the amino acid sequence.

Substitution Mutation

A change where one base letter in DNA is altered.

Addition/Deletion Mutation

A mutation that shifts the entire reading frame of the genetic sequence.