Mendelian Genetics Vocabulary Terms
hybrid
offspring of crosses between parents with different traits
gene
sequence of DNA that codes for a protein and determines a trait
allele
one of a number of different forms of a gene
dominant
masks the recessive allele; an organism with a dominant allele will exhibit that form of the trait; represented by a capital letter
recessive
masked by the dominant allele; organisms will only exhibit this form of the triat if the dominant allele is not present; represented by a lower case letter
segregation
separation of alleles during gamete formation
gamete
specialized cell involved in sexual reproduction
punnett square
diagram sowing the gene combinations that might result for ma genetic cross
homozygous
term used to refer to an organism that has two identical alleles for a particular trait
heterozygous
term used to refer to an organism that has two different alleles for the same trait
phenotype
describes the total physical appearance of an organism; physical characteristics
genotype
the genetic constitution of a individual; genetic makeup
Independent Assortment
random distribution of homologous chromosomes during meiosis
Incomplete Dominance
one allele is not completely dominant over the other allele
codominance
a kind f a dominance relationship
Homologous Chromosomes
chromosomes in a biological cell that pair during meiosis
meiosis
the primary step of cell division
Crossing-over
when genes from the parents come together and are transferred to the offspring
trait
characteristics of organisms that make them who they are
polygenic trait
continuous traits