parent 1 + parent 2 = punnet square fun!

Explain the relationship between genotype and phenotype

Genotypes are the alleles an individual inherits and the expression of an organism's genotype produces its phenotype. Essentially, genotypes code for phenotypes.

How can one phenotype result from more than one genotype?

One phenotype can result from more than one genotype because in most scenarios only one of two alleles is expressed in the genotype. That dominant allele is what is expressed and the allele that isn't is called the recessive allele, so genotypes with the same dominant allele can express the same phenotype despite having different recessive alleles.

How is gamete formation like tossing a coin?

Gamete formation is like tossing a coin because the same rules apply. Half of the gametes will receive an allele and the other half will receive the other allele. It is a 50-50% chance and is completely randomized, like a coin toss.

With a BB homozygote, what is the chance of a gamete having the B allele?

With a BB homozygote, the chance of a gamete having the B allele is 100%. This is because B is the only allele that the BB homozygous can pass on. Whichever allele the gamete receives will have to be a B.

With a BB homozygote, what is the chance of a gamete having the b allele?

With a BB homozygote, the change of a gamete having the b allele is 0%. The homozygote has no b allele to pass on, so whichever allele the gamete receives will not be a b.

What is a Punnett square?

A punnett square is a chart that allows people to determine the expected percentage of different genotypes in the offspring of two parents.

Incomplete dominance

heterozygous individuals express a "blending" of traits / Neither allele is dominant over the other

Codominance

heterozygous individuals express both traits intermittedly / Both alleles are equally dominant

What is a Genotype

A combination of genes/alleles that codes for a trait

What is a Phenotype

The physical appearance of an expressed genotype

What is an Allele

A version of a trait (represented by a capital or lowercase letter)

Complete Dominance

One allele is dominant over the other

Consumer

Organism that eats in order to get energy (food)

Producer

Organism that eats in order to get energy (animal)

Predator

An organism that hunts and kills other organisms

Prey

An organism that is hunted and killed by another organism

Food Chain

A diagram showing the flow of energy in an ecosystem

Population

The number of individuals of a particular species within an ecosystem

Natural selection

Environmental pressure causes organisms with genes for certain traits to be "more fit" for survival. The result is that those organisms are more likely to survive and pass the beneficial genes to their offspring.

Evolution

A shift in the genes of a population becomes so large that the population becomes a new species

Environmental Pressure

Any aspect of the environment that causes a struggle for survival

Adapted/Adaptation

The occurrence of a genetic trait that allows survivability of environmental pressures

Fitness

The ability to to survive specific environmental pressures and reproduce