1. Genetics The study of genes and the inheritance of traits

2. Characteristics  These are features you exhibit physically ( your looks) ( your looks) Example: Eye color - green

3. Traits  The different versions of a characteristic  Example: blue, green, and brown eyes

4. Genes  Bits of information passed down from parent to child.  Made of chemicals called DNA.

5. Reproduction  Sexual – Sperm fertilizes an egg to produce offspring  Asexual – occurs when 1 organism copies itself to produce offspring

6. Genotype  A combination of alleles Example: TT, Tt, or tt Example: TT, Tt, or tt *We flipped coins to determine the genotype of our critters and puppies.

7. Genotype  How the genes code for a specific trait.  If the trait is dominant it uses a capital letter –Example – Tall (T)  If the trait is recessive it uses the same letter but lower case –Example – short (t)  Genotypes always have two letters – one for dad and one for mom

8. Types of genotype  Purebred (homozygous) dominant – the genes only have the dominant trait in its code. –Example – Dominant Tall -- TT  Purebred (homozygous) recessive – the genes only have the recessive trait in its code. –Example – Recessive short – tt  Hybrid (heterozygous) – the genes are mixed code for that trait. –Example – hybrid Tall -- Tt

9. Alleles  T – is considered a dominant allele  t – is considered a recessive allele TT – is dominant Tt or tT – is dominant tt - is recessive

10. Punnett Square  Uses mom and dad’s genotypes to determine the possible traits of their offspring.  4 offspring

11. Phenotype  They are the traits determined by reading the genotype.  Example : FF = black fur  Black fur is the phenotype or trait

12. Phenotype  The outward appearance of the trait.  How an organism looks  How an organism acts  How an organism feels

13. Tricks to remembering the difference between Genotype and Phenotype  Genotype – deals with GENE CODE.  Phenotype – deals with looks you can take a PHOTO with.

14. Review Words  Characteristics – are the category of a trait – –Example – eye color, height, likes/dislikes  Traits – the physical, social, and emotional qualities of an organism –Example – blue eyes, tall, hates carrots  Dominant Trait – when a majority of an organism shows the trait. –Example – most pea plants show as tall  Recessive Trait – when a minority of an organism shows the trait. –Example – few pea plants show as short  Alleles – all the possible choices for a characteristic –Example – eye color – blue, brown, gray, green