Genetics (full list)

Genetics vocab

homozygous

homozygous

having two identical alleles for a trait

heterozygous

having two different alleles for a trait

pure

synonym of homozygous

hybrid

synonym of heterozygous

dominant

appears in an organism's phenotype if the allele is present

recessive

Shows up only when two alleles for the trait are inherited; often masked trait

alleles

different forms of a gene

trait

a characteristic that an organism can pass on to its offspring through its genes.

gene

A segment of DNA on a chromosome that codes for a specific trait

genotype

genetic makeup of an organism

phenotype

physical characteristics of an organism

incomplete dominance

when one allele doesn’t completely mask another resulting in a blending of both. (red + white = pink)

codominance

when one allele doesn’t mask another resulting in an individual that will show both alleles at the same time (red + white = red and white spots)

sex-linked traits

trait that is controlled by a gene found on a sex chromosome

Punnett square

a chart that shows all the possible combinations of alleles that can result from a genetic cross

pedigree

a diagram that shows the occurrence of a genetic trait in several generations of a family

Genetics

the branch of biology that studies heredity and variation in organisms

carrier

individual who has one copy of the allele for a recessive disorder and does not exhibit symptoms

double trait (two trait) cross

cross that shows how two different traits are passed on from parents to offspring

polygenic inheritance

when a trait is influenced by two or more genes

multiple alleles

having three or more alleles for a given gene

autosomal chromosome

one of the numbered chromosomes (1-22)

sex chromosome

chromosome involved in sex determination (X or Y)