iCEV Fundamental Animal Microgenetics

Homologous

alike or equal

Mitosis

cell division of the nucleus of a somatic cell resulting in two identical daughter nuclei in two cells

Meiosis

cell division resulting in haploid cells

Cytoplasm

complex solution of organic and inorganic components outside the cell nucleus contained by a cell membrane

Nucleus

essential to cell functions and contains nuclear sap form which chromosomes arise

X Chromosome

female chromosome

Chromatin

forms colored bodies

Y Chromosome

male Chromosome

Gametes

male or female reproductive cells

Oogenesis

meiosis in females

Spermatogenesis

meiosis in males

Allele

one of a pair of genes that occupy the same location on homologous chromosomes and affect the same trait in animals

Heredity

process which brings about the differences and similarities between parents and offspring; sum of qualities genetically derived from one's parents

Heritability

proportion of observed variation in a particular trait which can be inherited due to genetic factors

Diploid

refers to paired chromosomes in body cells

Haploid

refers to the number of chromosomes in a sex cell which is half of the original number

Phenotype

the actual physical appearance of an organism that is the combination of the organism's genotype and the environment

Genotype

the genetic makeup of an animal that is not affected by the environment

Base Pairing

the pairing of nitrogen bases

Genetics

the science of heredity and variation

Genes

the smallest unit of inheritance; a portion of a DNA molecule, occur in pairs on chromosomes in the nucleus of every cell