Science 8 - Unit 2 Pt. 1 - Vocab

dna

a molecule that contains the information that determines the traits that a living thing inherits and needs to live

chromosomes

chromatin is compacted into these structures

cell cycle

the life cycle of a eukaryotic cell

interphase

the part of the cell cycle in which the cell is not dividing; the cell spends most of its time in this phase and grows

mitosis

a type of cell division which results in two cells having the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent

cytokinesis

the division of the parent cell’s cytoplasm; final stage of the cell cycle

homologous chromosomes

chromosomes found in pairs that have the same structure and size

meiosis

the type of cell division that produces haploid sex cells

asexual reproduction

a type of reproduction where the offspring is produced by a single parent

sexual reproduction

when two parents each contribute a sex cell to the new organism

fertilization

when cells come together to begin the process of reproduction

heredity

the passing of genetic material from parent to offspring

gene

segments of DNA found in chromosomes that give instructions for producing a certain characteristic

allele

the different versions of a gene

genotype

an organism's complete set of DNA

phenotype

the observable traits of an organism

 dominant

this allele contributes to the phenotype if one or two copies are present in the genotype; more likely to show in the offspring if one or both parents have the trait

recessive

the allele contributes to the phenotype only if two copies of it are present; both parents must contribute this allele for it to show

incomplete dominance

each allele in a heterozygous individual influences the phenotype

 codominance

both of the alleles in a heterozygous individual contribute to the phenotype