Heredity
The passing of traits from parent to offspring
Trait
specific characteristics of an individual
genetics
The scientific study of heredity
Gene
A segment of DNA on a chromosome that codes for a specific trait
allele
Different forms of a gene
Dominant allele
one whose trait always shows up in the organism when the allele is present
Recessive allele
An allele that is hidden whenever the dominant allele is present
Punnett square
A chart that shows all the possible combinations of alleles that can result from a genetic cross
Phenotype
An organism's physical appearance, or visible traits.
Genotype
genetic makeup of an organism
homozygous
An organism that has two identical alleles for a trait
Heterozygous
having two different alleles for a trait
incomplete dominance
occurs when one allele is only partially dominant
codominance
occurs when both alleles for a gene are expressed equally
meiosis
the process by which the number of chromosomes is reduced by half to form sex cells
polygenic inheritance
occurs when more than one gene affects a trait
what does polygenic inheritance result in?
A broad range of phenotypes
What is an example of codominance?
AB blood type
What is an example of incomplete dominance?
red flower + white flower = pink flower
What is the percentage of heterozygous genotypes if Both parents are heterozygous? (Use Punnett Square)
50%
What is the difference between incomplete dominance and codominance?
In codominance, both alleles in the genotype are seen in the phenotype. In incomplete dominance, a mixture of the alleles in the genotype is seen in the phenotype.
Why would a pea plant be tall when it's a hybrid for stem height?
Hybrid pea plant is stem height tall because it has one dominant and one recessive allele. In a situation like this, the dominant allele covers up the recessive allele for short stems.
what happens during meiosis
During meiosis, the chromosome pairs separate into two different cells. The sex cells that form later have only half as many chromosomes as the other cells in the organism.
What is probability?
the likelihood that an event will occur