Genetics and Evolution

Nucleus

Location where genetic information is stored, located in the center of the cell

Inheritance

The passing of traits from one generation to the next

Heredity

Passing of features from generation to generation

Trait

The way a feature is expressed in an individual

Gene

the basic unit of heredity carried by the chromosome

Chromosome

structures that carry heredity information to the next generation. Coiled. DNA found inside the nucleus.

Allele

Variations of genes that determine traits in organisms.

DNA

a long tightly coiled molecule that looks like a twisted ladder inside the cell's nucleus.

Genotype

An organism's particular combination of paired alleles. It is the genetic makeup of an organism.

Phenotype

The trait produced by the genotype; the expression of the genes or what the organism looks like.

Dominant Trait

A trait that is more likely to appear in the phenotype, hides Recessive Trait

Recessive Trait

A trait that is less likely to appear in the phenotype, hidden by the Dominant Trait

Variation

Any difference between individuals of the same species.

Homozygous

Having two identical alleles for a particular gene

Heterozygous

Having two different alleles for a trait

Adaptation

A trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce

Gregor Mendel

Discovered the principles of heredity while studying pea plants, Father of Genetics

Watson and Crick

Discovered the structure of DNA

Mitosis

Cell division in which the nucleus divides into nuclei containing the same number of chromosomes

Meiosis

A type of cell division that results in four daughter cells each with half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell, more variation.

Interphase

Period of the cell cycle between cell divisions in which the cell grows, and DNA is replicated

Prophase

Chromosomes become visible, nuclear envelop dissolves.

Metaphase

Chromosomes line up in the middle of the cell

Anaphase

Phase of mitosis in which the chromosomes separate and move to opposite ends of the cell

Telophase

New identical nuclei form

Cytokinesis

Membrane separates cells to form two separate daughter cells

Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, Guanine

The four bases in DNA, A, T, C, and G

Centromere

Area where the chromatids of a chromosome are attached, chromosomes are counted by them

P generation

Parental generation, the first two individuals that mate

F1 generation

the first generation of offspring obtained from an experimental breeding of two organisms

F2 generation

Offspring resulting from interbreeding of the hybrid F1 generation.

Cell Division

Process by which a cell divides into two new identical daughter cells

Punnett Square

A chart that shows all the possible combinations of alleles that can result from reproduction between two given organisms

Mutation

An unexpected alteration in the DNA sequence during replication

Methods of Mutations

Adding, deletion, or swapping one or more nucleotides

These affect a person's a persons traits

Genetics and Environment

Feature

A characteristic shared by all members of a species

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