Biological Evolution

Heredity

Genetic traits inherited from parents.

Environment

External factors influencing appearance and behavior.

Identical DNA

Genetic similarity resulting in slight appearance differences.

Gregor Mendel

Father of modern genetics; studied inheritance.

True-breeding plants

Plants that consistently produce identical offspring.

F1 generation

First generation offspring from parental cross.

Dominant trait

Trait expressed in phenotype when present.

Recessive trait

Trait masked by dominant trait in phenotype.

Punnett square

Tool for predicting genetic trait combinations.

Contrasting characteristics

Different traits used in Mendel's experiments.

Mendel's traits

Now referred to as characteristics in genetics.

Genetics

Study of heredity and variation in organisms.

Phenotype

Observable characteristics resulting from genotype.