Apr 28, 2025
Genetics: The study of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics.
Trait: A specific characteristic of an organism, which can be physical (such as eye color) or behavioral.
Variation: Differences in physical traits among individuals of the same species.
Heredity: The passing on of traits from parents to offspring through genes.
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid): The molecule that carries genetic instructions in all living things.
Chromosome: A structure found in the nucleus of a cell that contains genetic material.
Gene: A segment of DNA that is involved in producing a polypeptide chain; it can influence a trait.
Genome: The complete set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or organism.
Karyotype: The number and appearance of chromosomes in the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell.
Mitosis: A type of cell division that results in two daughter cells, each having the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent nucleus.
Meiosis: A type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, creating four haploid cells, each genetically distinct from the parent cell.
Gregor Mendel: The father of genetics, known for his work on the inheritance of traits in pea plants.
Allele: One of two or more alternative forms of a gene that arise by mutation and are found at the same place on a chromosome.
Genotype: The genetic constitution of an individual organism.
Phenotype: The set of observable characteristics of an individual resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment.
Dominant Allele: An allele that expresses its phenotypic effect even when heterozygous with a recessive allele.
Recessive Allele: An allele that produces its characteristic phenotype only when its paired allele is identical.
Heterozygous: Having two different alleles of a particular gene or genes.
Homozygous: Having two identical alleles of a particular gene or genes.
Inherited Traits: Traits that are passed from parents to offspring through genes.
Acquired Traits: Traits that are gained by an organism after birth as a result of external influences or its own activities.
Mutation: A change in the DNA sequence that affects genetic information.