Heritability of Genetic Differences

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to the heritability of genetic differences, genetics, and their implications in biology.

Heritability

The proportion of phenotypic variance attributable to genetic variance.

Genome-wide Association Studies (GWAS)

A study that uses analysis of SNPs to find genomic regions associated with differences in traits.

Phenotypic Variation

Differences in observable traits among individuals, which can be continuous or discontinuous.

Continuous Variation

A type of variation where traits blend into one another and do not fall into distinct categories.

Discontinuous Variation

A type of variation where traits fall into distinct and separate categories.

Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)

A common simple DNA variant that can be associated with phenotypic differences.

Missing Heritability Problem

The discrepancy between the high heritability of a trait and the small percentage of that heritability explained by identified genetic variants.

Environmental Factors

Non-genetic factors that can influence phenotype, including habitat, resources, and exposure to chemicals.

Chance

The random occurrence of events that can lead to mutations and variations in phenotype.

Phenotype

The observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism, determined by both genetic makeup and environmental influences.