Genetics Vocabulary Name: ________ Gene - a segment of DNA that represents the information used to make a particular protein or trait. Trait - a characteristic feature of an organism. Such as eye color, ability to produce insulin, height, curly or straight hair.

Allele - a letter used to represent the presence of a trait. Dominant allele – a capital letter representing the major influencing gene for that trait. Example: B for the brown eye trait. Recessive allele – a lower case letter representing the minor or non-influencing gene for that trait. Example: b for the blue eye trait.

Genome – the total of all genes in an organism, the blueprint of that individual. Zygote - a fertilized egg containing 46 chromosomes. Heterozygote – a zygote or individual having different genes / alleles for a trait. Ex. B b

Homozygote – a zygote or individual having the same genes / alleles for a trait. Ex. B B or b b genotype – the complete set of both genes for a trait. B b phenotype – the observable trait, not taking into account all the genes. Ex. Blue eyes.

Punnet Square – a visual representation of inheritance of alleles.