Genetics Vocabulary

Front

DNA

Back

deoxyribonucleic acid; the genetic material that carries information about an organism passed from parent to offspring.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS1-1

NGSS.HS-LS3-1

Front

Trait

Back

a characteristic that an organism can pass onto its offspring through its genes.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS3-1

NGSS.HS-LS3-2

Front

Recessive

Back

an allele that is masked when a dominant allele is present; represented by lowercase letters.

Front

Gene

Back

the set of information that controls a trait; a segment of DNA on a chromosome that codes for a specific trait.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS3-1

Front

Offspring

Back

a parent's child or children.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS3-1

NGSS.HS-LS3-2

Front

Dominant

Back

an allele whose trait always shows up in the organism when the allele is present; represented by uppercase letters.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS3-1

Front

Allele

Back

different forms of a gene that can exist at a specific locus on a chromosome.

Front

Heredity

Back

the passing of traits from parent to offspring.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS3-1

NGSS.HS-LS3-2

Front

Genotype

Back

the genetic makeup of an organism; the combination of alleles for a specific trait.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS1-1

NGSS.HS-LS3-1

NGSS.HS-LS3-2

Front

Phenotype

Back

the physical appearance or observable characteristics of an organism resulting from the genotype.