Lecture_3.1: intro to genetics

Genetics

The study of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics.

Biological Variation

Differences in the characteristics of individuals within a population.

Natural Selection

The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Chromosome

Structures within cells that contain genetic information; composed of DNA.

Karyotype

A display of the chromosome pairs of a cell arranged by size and shape.

Homologous Chromosomes

Pairs of chromosomes that are similar in shape, size, and genetic information.

Autosomes

Non-sex chromosomes that code for various body structures.

Sex Chromosomes

Chromosomes that determine the sex of an organism (X and Y in humans).

Gene

A portion of DNA that has a detectable function, typically determining a character in an organism.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecular structure that carries genetic information.

Double Helix

The structure of DNA, resembling a twisted ladder.

Nitrogenous Base

The parts of DNA that encode genetic information; includes adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G).

DNA Replication

The process by which DNA makes a copy of itself before cell division.

Protein Synthesis

The process by which cells use genes to produce proteins.

Amino Acid

The building blocks of proteins, there are 20 different types.

Gene Function

The role of a gene in producing a functioning protein that contributes to traits.

Evolutionary Change

Changes in species over time due to variations and natural selection.