Genetics Review Terms


  1. Trait � these are different types of characteristics that are inherited from the parents to their offspring.

  1. The Blending Hypothesis of Inheritance - scientists in the 1800�s made up this theory. They said that if you mix two things together of the same species then the outcome (the offspring), with be the color of the two things that were mixed.

  1.  Genetics � this is the study of heredity.

  1. The Particulate Hypothesis of Inheritance � Gregory Mendel made this hypothesis. This states that parents pass on to their offspring, separate and distinct factors (genes) that are responsible for inherited traits.

  1. Self fertilized - this is when the plant has both the sperm and the egg and is able to reproduce by it self.

  1. Cross-fertilization � this is when sperm from the pollen of the flower fertilizes the eggs in the flower of a different plant.

  1. Hybrids � This is the offspring of two different true breeding varieties.

  1. Monohybrid cross � This is a cross-made between two parents, that have opposite traits (example: a purple flower pea plant and a white flower pea plant).

  1. Allele � this is one of two or more alternate forms of a gene.

  1. Homozygous � when the two alleles are the same (pure).

  1. Heterozygous � when the two alleles are different.

  1.  Dominant � this is the allele that appears (shows up) more often.

  1. Recessive � this is the allele that is hidden (masked).

  1. Punnett square � this is a type of diagram, that shows all the possible outcomes of a genetic cross (for the F1 generation the ratio is 3:1 which equals 4)

  1. Phenotype � the actual appearance  (what you see)

  1. Genotype- the actual genetic makeup (the combination of alleles).

  1. Testcross � this helps show us the unknown genotype.

  1. Mendel�s Principal of Independent Assortment - This is when Mendel tested his characters in dihybrid combinations.

  1. Dihybrid cross � This is a cross-made with organisms differing in two characters (the ratio is always 9: 3:3:1).

  1. Gametes- these are sex cells (the sperm, and the egg), and there is one copy of a gene for each trait (either the female trait, or the male trait). Segregation and recombination are factors that occur in pairs from each other.

  1.  Intermediate Inheritance � This is when either allele from either parent was dominate (neither of the alleles were stronger then another).

  1.  Codominance � This is when a heterozygote expresses both traits.

  1.  Polygenic inheritance � this is when many genes affect the character.

  1.  The Chromosome Theory of Inheritance � this states that, genes are located on chromosomes, and the behavior of chromosomes during fertilization, and meiosis affects the inheritance patterns.

  1. Gene locus- this is where the alleles of the same gene reside at them same location.

  1. Linked genes- these are traits that are usually linked together.

  1. Genetic linkage- this is the tendency for the alleles on one chromosome to be inherited together.

  1. Sex linked genes � these are genes that are located on the same chromosome.

 

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