Genetics Vocabulary

Front

Trait

Back

A characteristic of an organism, such as skin color, eye color, or hair type.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS3-1

NGSS.HS-LS3-2

Front

DNA

Back

A molecule found in the cell nucleus that encodes genetic information, known as deoxyribonucleic acid.

Front

Hybrid

Back

The offspring of genetically different parents.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS3-1

NGSS.HS-LS3-2

Front

Meiosis

Back

Cell division that results in four daughter cells, each with half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS3-2

Front

Homozygous

Back

Having two alleles that are the same.

Front

Allele

Back

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

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS3-2

Front

Genotype

Back

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

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS1-1

NGSS.HS-LS3-1

NGSS.HS-LS3-2

Front

Phenotype

Back

The observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism, determined by both genetic makeup and environmental influences.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS4-5

Front

Recessive

Back

An allele that is masked by a dominant allele and only expressed when two recessive alleles are present.

Front

Dominant

Back

An allele that expresses its trait even when only one copy is present.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS3-1

NGSS.HS-LS3-2