DNA & Genetics Unit Test Study

Selective Breeding

The breeding of organisms that have specific desirable traits.

Genetic Engineering

Manipulation of the genetic code to obtain a desired product by changing the DNA of an organism.

Applications of Genetic Engineering

Includes medicine, agriculture, and biology; examples are vaccines, artificial insulin, and high-yield crops.

Cloning

The process of producing an identical copy of a cell or organism; the first successful cloning was a sheep named Dolly in 1996.

Gregor Mendel

Known as the father of genetics; an Austrian monk who studied inheritance from 1856 to 1863.

Law of Dominance

states that one allele can mask the expression of another allele

Law of Segregation

states that allele pairs separate during the formation of gametes

Homozygous

two identical alleles for a particular gene; can be homozygous dominant (AA) or homozygous recessive (aa)

Heterozygous

two different alleles for a particular gene; represented as Aa

Meiosis

type of cell division that produces gametes, resulting in daughter cells with half the DNA of the parent cells

Mitosis

cell division that produces body/somatic cells with the same DNA as the parent cell, used for growth and repair

Punnett Square

diagram used to predict the genotypes of a genetic cross

Gametes

reproductive cells produced by meiosis that contain half the genetic material of the parent

Somatic Cells

body cells produced by mitosis that have the same DNA as the parent cell

Heredity

The passage of traits from one generation to the next.

Traits

Organism’s features that are passed on.

Variations

Differences in traits.

Inherited Trait

Characteristic that is caused by DNA and can be passed on.

Genotype

Genetic makeup of an organism, inherited combination of alleles written in 2 letters.

Phenotype

Physical expression of the genes.

Acquired Trait

Characteristic that is caused by environmental conditions.

Nature vs Nurture

The interaction between heredity and environment produces biodiversity.

Genotype Examples

BB, Bb, bb.

Phenotype Examples

Purple, Purple, White.

DNA

Heredity material that contains coded instructions to pass on genes from one generation to the next.

Genetics

The study of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics.

Rosalind Franklin

Scientist who used X-rays to produce an image of DNA that showed its double-helix structure.

James Watson and Francis Crick

Officially discovered the structure of DNA by creating a 3D model.

Double Helix

The structure of DNA.

Chromosomes

Tightly wound strands of DNA.

Genes

Sections on a chromosome that code for a trait.

Alleles

Different or alternate forms of a gene.

A, T, C, G are called

Nitrogenous Bases.

Complementary Base Pairs

Thymine and Adenine, Guanine and Cytosine.

Nucleotide

One sugar, phosphate, and nitrogenous base.

DNA Replication

Results in 2 strands of DNA that are exactly the same.

Mutation

A change in the DNA.

Reproduction

A life process by which living things transfer genetic information to their offspring.

asexual reproduction not allow for

Genetic Variation