Inheritance and Environmental Impacts

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes about inheritance and environmental impacts.

Meiosis

Cell division that does not involve two parents combining DNA, unlike sexual reproduction; important for DNA passing from parents to offspring and inheritance patterns.

Homologous Chromosomes

Chromosomes that have the same length and centromere position and contain the same genes in the same locations.

Karyotype

An individual's complete set of chromosomes, arranged in pairs.

Autosomal Chromosomes

Any of the numbered chromosomes other than the sex chromosomes.

Genes

A segment of DNA that carries the genetic code to make a specific polypeptide chain that controls characteristics of organisms.

Alleles

Different versions of genes for each characteristic.

Genotype

The combination of alleles an individual inherits for a given gene, represented by letters.

Phenotype

The expression of an organism’s genotype; physical characteristics or conditions.

Homozygous

An organism that has the same alleles for a gene.

Heterozygous

An organism that has different alleles for a gene.

Dominant Allele

An allele that masks the presence of another allele for the same gene when they occur together in a heterozygote.

Recessive Allele

An allele that is masked by the presence of another allele for the same gene when they occur together in a heterozygote.

Punnett Square

A tool used to predict the probability of different genotypes and phenotypes in offspring of two parents.

Incomplete Dominance

A situation where one allele is only partially dominant, resulting in an intermediate phenotype.

Codominance

A situation where both alleles are equally represented in the phenotype of a heterozygote.

Trisomy

A chromosomal disorder where there is an extra copy of a specific chromosome, resulting in three copies instead of the usual two.

Monosomy

A chromosomal disorder where there is only one copy of a specific chromosome, instead of the usual two.

Multiple Alleles

A situation where a gene has more than two allele options for a trait.

Autosomal Dominant

A genetic condition where a single copy of a mutated gene on an autosome is enough to cause the disease.

Autosomal Recessive

A genetic condition where two copies of a mutated gene on an autosome are required to cause the disease.

Carrier

An individual who carries one copy of a mutated gene for a recessive genetic disorder but does not exhibit symptoms of the condition themselves.

Sex-Linked Traits

Traits associated with genes located on the sex chromosomes, particularly the X chromosome.

Pedigree

A visual representation of a family's genetic history, used to track the inheritance of specific traits or genetic disorders.

Polygenic Traits

Traits that are controlled by multiple genes.

Environmental Influences

Factors such as temperature and light that can interact with heredity to produce phenotypes.