Genetics:

Study of heredity (the

transmission of traits from one
generation to the next)
Character:
Heritable feature that
varies among individuals (i.e. pea
color)
Trait:
Variant of a character (i.e.
green peas)
Hybrids:
offspring of 2 different
true-breeding varieties.
True Breeds:
Always produce the
same trait in every generation.
Generations:
P generation: parental plants
F1 generation: hybrid offspring
F2 generation: crosses of F1 plants
Genes:
Heritable feature;
(LIKE character).
Alleles:
Alternative versions
of genes, for example one
allele for yellow pea color
and one allele for green pea
color; (LIKE trait). For each
character, an organism
inherits 2 alleles, one from
each parent.
Homozygous:
Both
alleles for a gene
are identical
Heterozygous:
Alleles are different
Monohybrid Cross:
Between parent plants that
only differ in one character.

Dihybrid Cross:
crossing of parental varieties differing in 2 characteristics.
Homologous:
2 chromosomes with same gene sequence, not necessarily the same alleles though.
Polygenic Traits:
Determined by MANY GENES.
Dominance:
a dominant trait can cover up a recessive trait.
Recessive:
You need 2 recessive alleles for the recessive trait to be expressed.
Mendels Law of Segregation:
The two members of an allele pair segregate (separate) from each
other during production of gametes. An organism inherits one allele from each parent.
Mendels Law of Independent Assortment:
Alleles of different genes separate independently of each
other.
Phenotype:
An organisms PHYSICAL traits.
Genotype:
An organisms genetic makeup (alleles)
Test cross:
crossing an individual dominant phenotype but unknown genotype and a homozygous
recessive individual.

Pedigree:
Symbolic representations of family relations, can be used to determine inheritance of traits.
MAY tell us genotypes and help identify carriers, but not always.