Genetic Definitions

Trait.

A characteristic that an organism can pass on to its offspring through its genes

Punnett Squares

A chart that shows all the possible combinations of alleles that result from a genetic cross.

F1 offspring

A cross between purebred tall plants and purebred short plants.

Genetic disorders

A disease or disorder that is inherited genetically.

Chromosomes

A doubled rod of condensed chromatin;contains DNA that carries genetic information.

Genetics

The scientific study of heredity.

Allele

The different forms of a gene.

DNA

The genetic material that carries information about an organism and is passed from parent to offspring.

Dominant

The most powerful, important, or influential

Purebred

The offspring of many generations that have the same traits.

Mutation

A change in a gene or chromosome.

Protein synthesis

The process in which cells build proteins.

Nitrogen bases

An organic compound.

Proteins

A large organic molecule made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur.

Mendel

A monk in a monastery who had an interest in heredity and genetics.

Probability

A number that describes how likely it is that an event will occur.

Ribosomes

A small grain like structure in the cytoplasm of a cell where proteins are made.

Amino acids

A small molecule that is linked chemically to other amino acids to form proteins.

Recessive

Relating to or denoting heritable characteristics controlled by genes that are expressed in offspring only when inherited from both.

Heredity

The passing of traits from parents to offspring.

Gene

The set of information that controls a trait;a segment of DNA on a chromosome that codes for a specific trait.

Meiosis

`The process that occurs in the formation of sex cells by which the number of chromosomes is reduced by half.