unit 8, Topic 1: Genes Vocabulary

Front

inherit

Back

receive from parents

Front

mutation

Back

change in an organism's DNA

Front

evolution

Back

process by which a species changes over time

Front

natural selection

Back

organisms best suited to their environment pass on their genes to the next generation

Front

allele

Back

version of a gene

Front

chromosome

Back

structure in the nucleus that contains DNA

Front

DNA

Back

material that carries information about how an organism will look and function

Front

gene

Back

segment of DNA that codes for a trait

Front

trait

Back

characteristic of an organism that can vary

Front

nucleus

Back

organelle that holds a cell’s genetic material