Transcript Heredity/Reproduction Key Terms

Heredity/Reproduction
Key Terms
heredity
the passing of traits from
parents to offspring, from
one generation to the next.
nucleus
control center of the cell that
directs the cell's activities
and contains the cell's
DNA which determines
cell's characteristics
reproduction
the process by which living
things produce new living
things of the same type.
chromosome
a structure located in the
nucleus of a cell, made of
DNA, that contains the
genetic information needed
to carry out cell functions
and make new cells.
inherited
trait/characteristics
the trait that is passed down
from a parent that the
offspring IS born with.
DNA
(deoxyribonucleic acid) the
material found in the cell's
nucleus that determines
the genetic traits of the
organism
gene
segment of DNA found on a
chromosome that controls
an organism's traits
sexual reproduction
the reproductive process
that involves two parents
who combine their genetic
material to produce a new
organism, which DIFFERS
FROM BOTH parents
asexual reproduction
the production of offspring
by a single parent without
the union of a sperm and
egg cell
trait
a physical or behavioral
characteristic that an
organism can pass on to
its offspring through its
genes
acquired characteristics
a trait or characteristic that
we take on as a response
to the environment
ex. an animal learning how
to hide from a predator
genetics
the study of how traits are
passed from parent to
offspring.
allele
one of a pair of genes that
determine a specific trait
different forms of a gene
(dominant or recessive)
dominant allele
in a pair of alleles, the one
that if present determines
the trait
recessive allele
in a pair of alleles, the one
that is masked (hidden) if a
dominant allele is present
genome
all the genes that an
organism has
hybrid
an organism that carries
both a dominant and
recessive allele for the
same trait
cloning
process of using a cell or
tissue from an organism to
produce a new organism
with an identical genotype;
done in a lab
genotype
set of genes carried by an
organism
example: gene Rr
phenotype
the physical appearance of
an organism
example: Red feathers
Punnett squares
the table/grid used to predict
what traits offspring will
have, based on what traits
the parents have.
heterozygous
having one dominant and
one recessive allele for a
given trait
homozygous
having both dominant or
both recessive alleles for a
given trait
progeny
the offspring of a person,
plant, or animal