Heredity and Genetics

Heredity and Genetics

Heredity - the passing of traits from parent to offspring Genetics – the study of how traits are inherited

Gene - one set of instructions for inherited traits; one set from each parent Alleles - the different forms of a gene; dominant and recessive (again, one from each parent)

Dominant Trait A trait that prevents another trait from appearing. Covers up or dominates the other trait A capital letter represents the dominant allele

Recessive Trait A trait that does not appear when the dominant trait is present The trait that seems to disappear; hidden by the dominant trait Lower case letters represent the recessive alleles

Genotype The genetic make-up of an organism. It is the combination of alleles that an organism gets from its parents. (example: Tt) Phenotype The way an organism looks as a result of its genotype Physical appearance (example: blue eyes)

Heterozygous Receives different genetic information for a trait from each parent. (Tt) It is a trait that is made up of a combination of a dominant and a recessive trait. Hetero- means different.

Homozygous receives the same genetic information for a trait from each parent It is a trait that is made of all dominant (TT) or all recessive (tt) traits. The prefix homo means the same