Introduction to Genetics Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering the history of genetics, fundamental genetic concepts, chromosome theory, DNA structure, and model organisms based on lecture notes.

On the Seed

A treatise from the Hippocratic School of Medicine proposing that active "humors" in various parts of the male body served as bearers of hereditary traits passed into semen.

Theory of Epigenesis

A developmental theory proposed by William Harvey stating that an organism develops from a fertilized egg through a succession of developmental events that transform the egg into an adult.

Theory of Preformation

A developmental theory advocated by Giuseppe degli Aromatar stating that a fertilized egg contains a complete miniature adult called a homunculus.

Homunculus

A miniature adult, perfect in proportion and fully formed, historically believed to reside inside a sperm or fertilized egg.

Cell Theory

A biological theory articulated by Schleiden and Schwann stating that all organisms are composed of basic structural units derived from pre-existing cells.

Spontaneous Generation

The idea originally proposed by Aristotle that living organisms can arise from nonliving matter, which was later disproved by Louis Pasteur.

Father of Genetics

The title attributed to Gregor Mendel after he published a landmark paper in 1866 demonstrating how traits are inherited across generations in pea plants.

Diploid Number ($2N$)

The characteristic chromosome number in most eukaryotic somatic cells ($46$ in humans), where chromosomes exist in homologous pairs.

Haploid Number ($n$)

The chromosome count in gametic cells following meiosis, consisting of exactly one chromosome from each homologous pair.

Chromosome Theory of Inheritance

A theory formulated by Walter Sutton and Theodor Boveri establishing that inherited traits are controlled by genes residing on chromosomes transmitted via gametes.

Mutation

Any heritable change in the DNA sequence, serving as the primary source of all genetic variation.

Alleles

Alternative forms of a gene.

Genotype

The specific set of alleles for a given trait carried by an organism.

Phenotype

The observable physical or functional features of an organism produced by its set of alleles.

Complementary Base Pairings in DNA

The specific hydrogen-bonded pairings between nitrogenous bases on opposite strands of the DNA double helix, consisting of Adenine with Thymine ($A=T$) and Guanine with Cytosine ($G=C$).

Recombinant DNA

A DNA molecule formed by joining DNA fragments produced by restriction enzymes into carrier DNA molecules known as vectors.

Genome

The complete haploid DNA content of a specific organism.

Transgenic Organism

An organism produced through the transfer of heritable traits across species using recombinant DNA technology.

Genetic Model Organisms

Species chosen for experimental genetic studies (such as Mus musculus and Drosophila melanogaster) because they share genetic mechanisms with other organisms, are easy to grow, have short life cycles, and produce numerous offspring.

Azoospermia

A genetic condition characterized by the complete absence of sperm in semen, associated with mutations or microdeletions on Chromosome Y.