Biotechnology – the use of artificial
methods to modify the genetic material of
living organisms or cells to produce novel
compounds or to perform new functions
Nucleic Acids – are macromolecules made
of nucleotides
Gel Electrophoresis – a technique used to
separate charged molecules on the basis of
size and charge
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) – a
technique used to rapidly increase the
number of copies of specific regions of
DNA for further analyses
Cloning – the creation of a perfect replica
Plasmid – a small circular DNA molecule
that replicates independently of the
chromosomal DNA in bacteria
Restriction Enzymes – also called
restriction endonucleases; recognize specific
DNA sequences and cut them in a
predictable manner
Annealing – the process of forming
hydrogen bonds between complementary
sequences on single strands to form double-
stranded DNA
Recombinant DNA Molecules – plasmids
with foreign DNA inserted into them
Recombinant Proteins – are proteins that
are produced from recombinant DNA
molecules
Reproductive Cloning – is a method used
to make a clone or an identical copy of an
entire multicellular organism
Pedigree – making use of diagrams showing
the ancestral relationships and transmission
of genetic traits over several generations in a
family
Proband – the individual in the pedigree
that led to the construction of the pedigree
Law of Segregation – 1st Mendelian Law;
for every trait governed by a pair of alleles,
these alleles segregate or separate during
gamete formation in meiosis
Law of Independent Assortment – 2nd
Mendelian Law; a pair of alleles for one trait
will segregate or separate independently of
another pair of alleles for another trait
during meiosis
Autosomal Trait – a trait whose alleles that
control it are found in the autosomes (body
chromosomes/ non-sex chromosomes)
Genotype – the gene pair an individual
carries for a particular trait symbolized with
a pair of letters
Phenotype – the observable trait of an
individual based on its genotype
Dominant – a trait that requires at least one
dominant allele for the trait to be expressed
Recessive – a trait that requires two
recessive alleles for the trait to be expressed
Phenocopy – a trait that is expressed due to
specific environmental conditions and is not
due to the genotype
Identical Twins – also known as
monozygotic twins; are derived from a
single fertilization event
Fraternal Twins – also known as dizygotic
twins; twins that are derived from separate
fertilization events within the fallopian tube,
resulting in two separate zygotes
Sex Linked Trait – the gene (pair) that
determines a character is located on the sex
chromosomes
X-Linked Trait – a sex-linked trait is where
the gene or allele for the trait is found on the
X chromosome
Co-dominance – two contrasting alleles are
present in the same locus or trait
(heterozygote genotype), then the phenotype
expressed is a “blend” of the two extreme
phenotypes the effects of both alleles
Incomplete Dominance – two contrasting
alleles are present in the same locus or trait
(heterozygote genotype), then both alleles
are expressed in the same phenotype
Multiple Alleles – there are more than two
types of alleles for a given locus or trait, this
will result in more than two kinds of
phenotypes that may be expressed for that
trait

Color Blindness – an X-linked recessive

trait where an affected individual could not
distinguish red from green color

Hemophilia – an X-linked recessive trait

where an affected individual suffers from
delayed blood clotting during injuries
because of the absence of certain blood
clotting factors

Y-Linked Trait – a sex-linked trait where

the gene or allele for the trait is found on the
Y chromosome

Hypertrichosis Pinnae Auris – a Y-linked

trait where affected males have hair growing
from their external ears

Sex-Influenced Trait – any trait in a diploid

organism whose expression is affected by an
individual’s biological sex

Sex-Limited Trait – any trait in a diploid

organism whose expression is limited to just
one biological sex