Inheritance, Genes, and Chromosomes

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to inheritance, genetics, and the mechanisms of inheritance as discussed in the lecture notes.

Dominance

The phenomenon where one allele of a gene masks the expression of another allele.

Alleles

Different versions of a gene that can exist at the same locus.

Genotype

The genetic constitution of an individual, often in reference to a specific trait.

Phenotype

The observable physical characteristics of an organism, influenced by genotype and environment.

Mendelian Trait

A trait that is determined by a single gene according to Mendel's laws of inheritance.

Independent Assortment

The principle that alleles for different traits are distributed to gametes independently of one another.

Segregation

The process by which alleles separate during gamete formation.

Homozygous

An individual with two identical alleles for a particular gene.

Heterozygous

An individual with two different alleles for a particular gene.

Test Cross

A cross between an individual of unknown genotype and a homozygous recessive individual to determine the unknown genotype.

Co-dominance

A genetic scenario where both alleles in a heterozygote are fully expressed.

Incomplete dominance

A form of intermediate inheritance in which one allele for a specific trait is not completely dominant over its paired allele.

Epistasis

The interaction between genes in which the expression of one gene is affected by another gene.

Linkage

The tendency of alleles that are located close together on a chromosome to be inherited together.

Locus

The specific physical location of a gene on a chromosome.

Horizontal gene transfer

The transfer of genetic material between organisms other than through vertical transmission from parent to offspring.

Plasmid

A small circular DNA molecule found in bacteria that is separate from chromosomal DNA and can replicate independently.

Sex-linked inheritance

The inheritance pattern of genes located on sex chromosomes, particularly the X chromosome.

Mitochondrial inheritance

Genetic transmission that occurs through the mitochondria, usually inherited from the mother.

Heritability

The proportion of observed variation in a trait that can be attributed to inherited genetic factors.