1. Genetics Vocabulary

2. trait A physical characteristic passed from parents to offspring

3. inherit To get a trait from your parents

4. What is Heredity? Definition The passing of traits from parent to offspring across generations Ex. I have my Dad’s nose. Picture

5. offspring An organism’s baby

6. gene Factor that controls traits A segment of DNA that codes for a specific trait

7. allele The different forms of a gene We Inherit one allele from our mother and one allele from our father.

8. Dominant allele Dominant means strongest, most important Dominant allele is the gene that always shows the trait if present

9. Recessive allele Recede (v) is to move back. Recessive (adj) tending to recede Recessive allele is the one that is overpowered by a dominant gene and only expressed when two recessive genes are present.

10. purebred An organism that always produces offspring with the same form. Organism has the same alleles for a trait Same as homozygous

11. hybrid An organism with two different alleles for a trait. Same as heterozygous

12. genotype An organisms genetic makeup or allele combination The type of genes

13. phenotype An organisms appearance or visible traits. What you see

14. Homozygous Having the same alleles for a trait

15. heterozygous Having two different alleles for a trait

16. Codominance A condition when neither of two alleles are dominant. Both alleles act on a trait.

17. Punnet square A chart used to predict the possible outcomes of a genetic cross

18. mutation Any change in the DNA

19. Sex-linked characteristics Traits that are controlled by genes on the X chromosome

20. Carrier A person who “carries” the gene for a trait but does not show that trait. A person with one dominant and one recessive allele for a trait

21. Pedigree chart A chart used to show the passing of genes among families.

22. karyotype A picture of all the chromosomes in a cell