Genetics Vocabulary

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Genotype

Back

An organism's genetic makeup, or allele combinations (the letters)

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Phenotype

Back

An organism's physical appearance, or visible traits (how it looks)

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Homozygous

Back

Having two identical alleles for a trait

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Heterozygous

Back

Having two different alleles for a trait

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Dominant allele

Back

An allele whose trait always shows up in the organism when the allele is present.

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Recessive allele

Back

An allele that is masked when a dominant allele is present

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Inherited trait

Back

A characteristic that an organism can pass on to its offspring through its genes.

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Acquired trait

Back

A characteristic that a living thing gets during its lifetime

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Punnett square

Back

A chart that shows all the possible combinations of alleles that can result from a genetic cross

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Probability

Back

Likelihood that a particular event will occur