genetics

The scientific study of heredity

Gregor Mendel
Augustinian monk and botanist whose experiments in breeding garden peas led to his
eventual recognition as founder of the science of genetics (1822-1884)

trait
specific physical characteristic that varies from one individual to another

gene
section of DNA that codes for a specific trait

hybrid
a genotype with two different alleles.

allele
different forms of a gene

principle of dominance
Mendel's second conclusion, which states that some alleles are dominant and others are
recessive

gamete
specialized cell involved in sexual reproduction

fertilization
process in sexual reproduction in which male and female reproductive cells join to form
a new cell

"true breeding"
term used to describe organisms that produce offspring identical to themselves if
allowed to self-pollinate

P generation
parental generation, the first two individuals that mate in a genetic cross

F1 generation
the first generation of offspring obtained from an experimental cross of two organisms
F2 generation
the second generation of offspring, obtained from an experimental cross of two
organisms; the offspring of the F1 generation

probability
The likelihood that a particular event will occur

Punnett square
a chart that shows all the possible combinations of alleles that can result from a genetic
cross

genotype
genetic makeup of an organism

phenotype
The physical traits that appear in an individual as a result of its gentic make up. What an
organism looks like.

heterozygous
Scientific term for having two different alleles for a trait

homozygous
Scientific term for having two identical alleles for a trait

homozygous dominant
Scientific term for having two dominant alleles for a trait

homozygous recessive
Scientific term for having two recessive alleles for a trait

incomplete dominance
creates a blended phenotype; one allele is not completely dominant over the other

codominance
situation in which both alleles of a gene contribute to the phenotype of the organism

meiosis
(genetics) cell division that produces reproductive cells in sexually reproducing
organisms
diploid
term used to refer to a cell that contains a complete set of chromosomes

haploid
an organism or cell having only a half set of chromosomes

homologous pair
pair of identical chromosomes

zygote
fertilized egg

pure
a genotype with two of the same alleles.

heredity
the study of genetics

For aliens the allele for a star antennae is dominant to the allele for no star. If a pure
dominant alien is crosses with a hybrid alien, what would the genotypes of the offspring
be?
SS and Ss

In aliens, Q=the allele for a smooth face and q= the allele for face spikes. Give the
genotypes for the offspring from Qq x Qq
QQ, Qq, qq

In aliens, Q=the allele for a smooth face and q= the allele for face spikes. Give the
phenotype ratio for the offspring.
3 smooth face: 1 face spikes

In a group of 12 people, 9 can roll their tongues and 3 cannot. Which phenotype is
dominant?
tongue rolling

In a group of 12 people, 9 can roll their tongues and 3 cannot. What is the ratio?
3 tongue rolling:1 cannot roll tongue