Genetics Vocabulary

Trait An inherited characteristic An inherited characteristic Examples: hair color, eye color, tongue rolling Examples: hair color, eye color, tongue rolling

DNA Deoxyribonucleic Acid (WOW) Deoxyribonucleic Acid (WOW) Holds all our genetic information Holds all our genetic information Found in the nucleus of a cell Found in the nucleus of a cell

Herbivore Animals that eat only plants Animals that eat only plants Examples: giraffes, horses, tortoises Examples: giraffes, horses, tortoises

Carnivore Latin: carnivora (to devour meat) Latin: carnivora (to devour meat) Animal that only eats other animals (meat) Animal that only eats other animals (meat) Examples: lions, tigers, venus fly traps Examples: lions, tigers, venus fly traps

Omnivore Latin: omnivora (to devour everything) Latin: omnivora (to devour everything) nimal that eats other animals and plants nimal that eats other animals and plants Examples: bears & humans Examples: bears & humans

Characteristics A distinguishing quality, feature, mark, or trait A distinguishing quality, feature, mark, or trait

Gene Part of DNA that has instructions for making specific traits Part of DNA that has instructions for making specific traits

Hereditary Passing of traits/characteristics from one generation to the next Passing of traits/characteristics from one generation to the next

IIII nnnn hhhh eeee rrrr iiii tttt eeee dddd Characteristic and/or trait received from a parent or parents “I inherited my blue eyes from mom and brown hair from dad.”