Chromosomes - tiny thread-like structures inside the nucleus of a cell consisting of DNA and proteins, DNA - Deoxyribonucleic acid contains the genetic code of all living things, Genes - segments of DNA with a coded set of instructions in its base sequence for a specific protein product / trait, Alleles - alternative forms of a gene for a particular characteristic, Genotype - genetic instructions inherited from parents at a particular gene locus, Phenotype - characteristics that result from the expression of an organism’s genotype, Sex cell - Gametes are sex cells (i.e. sperm and ova). Sex cells have 23 single chromosomes in their nucleus (haploid)., Somatic Cell - Are body cells (i.e. non-sex cells). E.g. skin cells, muscle cells, pancreatic cells…, Karyotype - Shows the number and general appearance of the set of chromosomes in a somatic cell., Haploid - One copy of each chromosome e.g. human gametes have 23 chromosomes, Diploid - Two copies of each chromosome. E.g. humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes (46 chromosomes total), Maternal - Characteristics such as hair colour and ear shape inherited through mother’s genes, Paternal - Characteristics such as hair colour and ear shape inherited through father’s genes, Trait - Various attributes (characters) of organisms (e.g. plant height, blood type, fur colour…) are inherited (passed from one generation to the next). Each variant of a character = trait., Dominant - Alleles are either dominant or recessive. e.g. yellow (dominant, Y, capital letter). These alleles may be passed on through autosomal or sex-linked inheritance., Recessive - Alleles are either dominant or recessive. e.g. green (recessive, y, lower case letter). These alleles may be passed on through autosomal or sex-linked inheritance., Autosomal - An inherited trait coded for by genes located on autosomes., Co-Dominant - Type of inheritance in which the heterozygote shows the expression of both alleles in its phenotype, Sex-Linked - An inherited trait coded for by genes located on sex chromosomes, Gene mutation - OR Point mutation. A mutation at one particular point in the DNA sequence that may cause a substitution, deletion or insertion mutation (change in nucleotides)., Chromosome mutation - Change to DNA sequence at a chromosomal level., Heterozygous - If two alleles are different, it is heterozygous (e.g. Yy – heterozygous)., Homozygous - If those two alleles are the same, it is homozygous (e.g. YY - homozygous dominant; yy – homozygous recessive)., Homologous Chromosomes - The maternal and paternal copy of the same chromosome form a homologous pair and are called homologous chromosomes. These chromosomes are not identical e.g. each copy of the flower colour gene can code for red flowers or for white flowers. (alleles), Pure breeding - When an organism comes from a long line of parents just like it.,

Genetics Terminology

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