Science Genes Vocabulary

skibidi dop dop dop sir holdener i need mastering pls

Heredity

The passing on of physical and mental traits genetically from one generation to another. 

Sperm

A reproductive cell in males with a nucleus. These cells combine with an egg to create an embryo.

Egg

A female reproductive cell that combines with sperm during fertilization to form an embryo.

Pure-Breed

An organism whose parents and ancestors all belong to the same breed. This ensures that the organism retains specific traits characteristic of that breed over generations.

Cross-Breed

An organism with pure-bred parents of two different breeds. This results in offspring that exhibit traits from both parental breeds, often leading to greater genetic diversity.

Offspring

The product of reproduction between two living things, which can inhibit characteristics from both parents.

Zygote

A fertilized egg formed when a sperm cell unites with an egg cell, marking the beginning of development for a new organism. Contains combined DNA and chromosomes; a diploid.

Male

The sex of an organism that produces the gamete sperm for reproduction, typically associated with the presence of XY chromosomes in many species.

Female

The sex of an organism that contains the gamete eggs for reproduction, typically associated with the presence of XX chromosomes in many species.

Trait

A specific characteristic of an individual e.g. eye color.

Variation

The possible differences within a trait e.g. different eye colors.

Nucleus

The structure in a cell that contains the chromosomes.

Myosin

A motor protein producing dense contractile filaments within muscle cells to enable muscle contraction that pull on the muscle to create movement in muscles.

Actin

A motor protein producing thin contractile filaments within muscle cells to enable muscle contraction that is pulled by another protein to create movement in muscles.

Protein

A molecule made up of amino acids.

Gamete

Reproductive cells; an umbrella term for both male and female stuff e.g. sperm, egg, ovum.

Haploid

A cell with a single set of chromosomes, or half the regular amount. Gametes are an example.

Diploid

A non-gamete cell containing all chromosomes.

Pedigree

A model representing the passing of traits through generations.

Phenotype

The observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism, determined by genetic makeup and environmental influences. E.g. big nose, but nose size would be a trait.

Chromosomes

A linear arrangement of condensed DNA and associated proteins which contains the genetic material (genome) of an organism.

Karyotype

A way to organize chromosomes by length/size: a complete set of chromosomes.

Myostatin

A regulatory protein managing muscle size.

Genotype

The combination of alleles that an organism has of the same type of gene.

Alleles

Different forms of genes which can cause different forms of proteins which lead to variations in a trait, like extra big muscles.

Genes

A certain region of a chromosome that causes a certain protein to be made, is sometimes related to a certain trait.

Actisin

A regulatory receptor protein that either accepts or rejects a myostatin signal or not.

Musculature

The system or arrangement of muscles in a body.

Somatic Cells

Any non-reproductive cell.

Punnet Square

A square diagram used to predict genotypes with the parent genotypes.