Genetics vocabulary

Traits are determined by the genes on the chromosomes . Traits are determined by the genes on the chromosomes. A gene is a segment of DNA that determines a trait.

What is a chromosome? Found in the nucleus Contains the genetic information- DNA 23 chromosomes come From the father and 23 from the mother

What is a gene? Piece of DNA found On a chromosome That determines The inheritance of A particular trait

Review----What is a trait? Inherited from our parents To offspring (children) Examples: Eye color Hair color Tongue rolling

What is an allele? Two different forms of a trait that a gene may have Usually indicated by An upper case Letter and A lower case letter T or t

I know what you are thinking now!! If one chromosome comes from the mother and one from the father, how can we use only 1 letter for each trait (allele)? Glad you asked!!!

Genes are labeled using 2 letters. They are either: Heterozygous or Hybrid An organism with 2 different alleles for a trait Tt or Gg Homozygous An organism with 2 alleles that are the same TT or tt

Is there a difference between what the genes say and what you see? Yes, what is that difference? Genotype- the set of genes carried by an organism Examples are TT , GG, Tt, gg, Gg, tt Phenotype- what the organism looks like Examples are Green, Tall, Short, Wrinkled

There are 2 types of traits I bet that you are dying to know why some letters are capitalized and some are not ? There are 2 types of traits Recessive A trait that is covered up by the dominant trait. You would only see this trait if both parents have the same allele Indicated by using lower case letters. tt or gg Dominant A trait that “covers up” the other form of the trait. This is the trait that you see. Indicated by using CAPITAL LETTERS T or G

So far, we have looked at traits such as eye and hair color? How can genetics (the study of heredity) be used to improve lives? In what ways can be genetics be used that is negative to society? What are ethics?

How can we predict the results of Mendelian genetics? We can use a tool called the PUNNET T SQUARE.