Unit 4: Kingdom Plantae & Genetics Vocabulary

Plantae (plant)

complex, multi-cellular autotrophic organisms that are usually green and use photosynthesis to make sugar (glucose)

Photosynthesis

the process by which a plant takes in carbon dioxide and water and in the presence of sunlight makes sugar and oxygen; occurs in chloroplast

Chlorophyll

the green pigment in chloroplasts where photosynthesis occurs

Cell wall

a structure that surrounds the cell membrane of plant cells, it provides strength and support

Respiration (cellular respiration)

the process of producing energy (ATP) in the cell from oxygen and glucose; produces carbon dioxide and water; occurs in mitochondria

Binary fission

the simple cell division in which one cell splits into 2; asexual reproduction

DNA

hereditary material found in the nucleus of a cell that controls all the activities of the cell

Mitosis

division of the nucleus in eukaryotic cells in w/ each new cell (2) receives a copy of the original chromosomes

Meiosis

nuclear division that produces sex cells (sperm and egg)

Heterozygous

describes the organism or trait that has two different alleles for the same trait (Bb)

Homozygous

describes the organism or trait that has two identical alleles for the same trait (BB or bb)

Chromosomes

a coiled structure of DNA and protein that forms in the cell nucleus during cell division

Heredity

the passing of traits from parent to offspring

Punnett squares

a tool scientist use to predict all of the possible combinations of alleles that offspring can inherit from 2 parents

Genes

segments of DNA, located on chromosomes, that carry the hereditary instructions that are passed from parent to offspring

Alleles

different forms of the same gene

Genotype

the inherited combination of alleles (could be BB, Bb or bb)

Phenotype

the physical expression of the inherited combination of alleles (could be brown or blue…)

Natural Selection

the process in which organisms with favorable traits survive and reproduce at a higher rate than organisms without the favorable trait (peppered moths & industrial revolution example).

Selective breeding

the breeding of organisms that have a certain desired trait

Hybrid

an offspring that was given different genetic information for a trait from each parent

Purebred (true breeding)

an organism that always produces the same traits generation after generation.

Dominant trait

a term that describes the allele that determines the phenotype of an individual organism when two different copies are present in the genotype (written as an uppercase letter)

Recessive trait

a term describes an allele that is not expressed (shown) when combined with a dominant form of the gene (written as a lowercase letter)