Biology Final Study Guide

Flashcards covering key concepts related to Mendel's laws of inheritance, meiosis, and reproduction.

Allele

Variant form of a gene.

Genotype

Genetic makeup of an organism.

Phenotype

Observable traits of an organism.

Homozygous

Having two identical alleles for a gene.

Heterozygous

Having two different alleles for a gene.

Crossing Over

Exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes during meiosis.

Gamete

Sex cell (sperm or egg) that carries half the genetic information.

Law of Segregation

Describes how alleles separate during gamete formation.

Law of Independent Assortment

Describes how different genes independently separate from one another when reproductive cells develop.

Punnett Square

A diagram used to predict the genetic outcomes of a cross.

Dominant Trait

A trait that is expressed even when only one allele is present.

Recessive Trait

A trait that is expressed only when two alleles are present.

Codominance

A form of inheritance where both alleles in a heterozygote are fully expressed.

Incomplete Dominance

A form of inheritance where the phenotype is intermediate between the two parental types.

Sexual Reproduction

Reproduction that involves the fusion of gametes, leading to genetic diversity.

Asexual Reproduction

Reproduction that does not involve the fusion of gametes, leading to genetically identical offspring.

Pedigree Chart

A diagram that shows the occurrence of a genetic trait in several generations of a family.