DNA, Genes, and Chromosomes Flashcard

Front

What is heredity?

Back

Heredity is the process by which traits are passed from parents to offspring.

Front

What are alleles?

Back

Alleles are different versions of a gene that exist in pairs, one inherited from each parent.

Front

What is a trait?

Back

A trait is a characteristic or feature of an organism, such as eye color or height.

Front

What is a gene?

Back

A gene is a segment of DNA that contains the instructions for building a specific protein, which influences a trait.

Front

What is a chromosome?

Back

A chromosome is a long strand of DNA that contains many genes; humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes.

Front

What is the role of DNA in heredity?

Back

DNA carries the genetic information that is passed from parents to offspring, determining inherited traits.

Front

What is the difference between dominant and recessive alleles?

Back

Dominant alleles express their traits even if only one copy is present, while recessive alleles require two copies to express their traits.

Front

What is a generation in terms of heredity?

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A generation refers to all the offspring born and living at about the same time, often used to study inheritance patterns.

Front

What is an inherited trait?

Back

An inherited trait is a characteristic that is passed down from parents to their offspring through genes.

Front

What is an example of an inherited trait in animals?

Back

Eye color is an example of an inherited trait in animals.