Chapter 4 science vocab

nucleus

mitosis

chromosome

structure in a cell’s nucleus that contains hereditary material

asexual reproduction

a type of reproduction-fission, budding, and regeneration-in which a new organism is produced from one organism and had DNA identical to the parent organism.

sexual reproduction

sperm

egg

haploid sex cell formed in the female reproductive organs.

fertilization

in sexual reproduction, the joining of a sperm and egg.

zygote

diploid

cell whose similar chromosomes occur in pairs.

haploid

cell that has half the number of chromosomes as body cells.

meiosis

reproductive process that produces four haploid sex cells from one diploid cell and ensures offspring will have the same number of chromosomes as the parent organisims.

DNA

gene

section of DNA on a chromosome that contains instructions for making specific proteins

RNA

mutation

any permanent change in a gene or chromosome of a cell; may be beneficial, harmful, or have little effect on an organism.

heredity

the passing of traits from parents to offspring

organism

any living thing; uses energy, is made of cells, reproduces, responds, grows, and develops