Unit 4: Genetics Vocab Flashcard 1- D

Front

What is the term for an organism that inherits two of the same alleles from its parents?

Back

homozygous

Front

What does DNA stand for?

Back

Deoxyribonucleic acid

Front

What is the basic unit of heredity that consists of a segment of DNA on a chromosome?

Back

gene

Front

What term describes an allele that is not expressed when combined with a dominant form of the allele?

Back

recessive

Front

What is a phenotype?

Back

The physical appearance of a gene.

Front

What is the term for an organism that inherits two different alleles from its parents?

Back

heterozygous

Front

What is the difference between a dominant and a recessive allele?

Back

A dominant allele is expressed in the phenotype even when only one copy is present, while a recessive allele is only expressed when two copies are present.

Front

What is the genotype of an organism?

Back

The genetic makeup of an organism, represented by the alleles it possesses.

Front

What is the role of a gene in heredity?

Back

A gene is a segment of DNA that contains the instructions for building proteins, which determine traits.

Front

What is the significance of Punnett squares in genetics?

Back

Punnett squares are used to predict the probability of offspring inheriting particular traits based on the genotypes of the parents.