1. Genetics Vocabulary
REVIEW

2. Work together to ensure that all organisms function properly
the smallest unit of life.
Work together to ensure that all organisms function properly
cell

3. traits passed on to offspring from parents.
heredity

4. a distinguishing characteristic
trait

5. a form of a gene
allele

6. having two different alleles
for a trait
heterozygous
(hybrid)

7. physical appearance of an organism
phenotype

8. reproducing without the union of gametes
asexual
reproduction

9. of one or more amino acids
large molecule composed
of one or more amino acids
protein

10. the level of likelihood that something will occur
probability

11. the two new cells formed during mitosis
daughter
cells

12. the male sex cell; determines the gender of the offspring
sperm

13. the process of sex cell formation; a diploid cell divides into four haploid sex cells
meiosis

14. a difference in an inherited trait
variation

15. a change in inheritable traits over time
natural
selection

16. the alteration in the sequence of the genome
of an organism
mutation

17. usual number of chromosomes
cell that contains half the
usual number of chromosomes
haploid
cell

18. process where a group of cells that were produced asexually (in a laboratory) and are genetically identical
cloning

19. genetic trait that helps an organism survive in its environment; living organism adjusting to environmental changes
adaptation

20. cell having two sets of chromosomes
diploid
cell

21. one of many tiny structures in the cytoplasm that do a job for the cell
organelle

22. contains a nucleus surrounded by a membrane
eukaryote

23. study of how traits get passed down from generation to generation
genetics

24. rod-shaped bodies that carry genetic code
chromosome

25. the entire set of genes of an organism; a set of genes, single traits can be found using a Punnett square
genotype

26. carries the information that determines your traits
gene

27. the stronger gene that shows up in a trait if
one allele is present
dominant
gene

28. having the same alleles for a trait
homozygous
(pure)

29. chart used to predict traits in an offspring
Punnett
square

30. the genetic material found in a cell
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid

31. process of cell division
mitosis

32. to produce an offspring
requires a process of meiosis and fertilization
to produce an offspring
sexual
reproduction

33. the weaker, hidden gene for a trait; it only shows up if two alleles are present for a trait
recessive
gene

34. makes up the basic units of DNA and RNA molecules
nucleotide
base

35. reproductive cells
gametes

36. process of combining male and female sex cells
to produce a zygote
fertilization

37. diploid cell produced by the joining of two haploid cells; a eukaryotic cell formed from fertilization
zygote

38. female sex cell
egg

39. cell that contains no nucleus and is not surrounded by a membrane
prokaryote

40. control center of a cell
nucleus

41. type of asexual reproduction that occurs when an offspring grows from a piece of its parent
regeneration

42. ability to maintain stability in an organism’s
internal conditions
homeostasis

43. the intention of producing an offspring with desirable traits
selective
breeding

44. a pyrimidine base contained in DNA that links with guanine
cytosine

45. a crystalline, purine base contained in DNA that pairs with cytosine
guanine

46. a white, crystalline, purine base contained in DNA
links with thymine
adenine

47. a white, crystalline, pyrimidine base contained in DNA that
links with adenine
thymine

48. serves as building blocks for proteins
amino
acid

49. a group of three letters used to identify information contained in DNA
codon