Genetics Vocabulary

What does the word "trait" mean?

Example: Why do we have certain traits from one parent and not the other?

• a quality or characteristic, usually one belonging to a person

• a type of fence

• a chart that can help predict the genetic characteristics of a child

What is a "Punnett square"?

Example: Scientists use various methods to analyze the genetic characteristics of the parents, such as Punnett squares and pedigree charts.

• the main square of a city

• a chart that can help predict the genetic characteristics of a child

• a type of shape studied in Geometry

What is "DNA"?

Example: DNA, deoxyribonucleic acid, contains the instructions an organism needs to develop, live and reproduce.

• a type of fence

• a molecule that contains the biological instructions that make each living being unique

• a chart that can help predict the genetic characteristics of a child

What is a "gene"?

Example: Genes are regions in DNA that are responsible for traits.

• a type of shape studied in Geometry

• parents

• a biological unit that carries the information that determines your traits

What is a "dominant trait"?

Example: Brown eyes are a dominant trait.

• a trait that is expressed in an offspring if one parent contributes it

• a trait that expresses in an offspring only if both parents contribute it

• a train that only travels one direction

What is a "recessive trait"?

Example: Blue eyes are a recessive trait.

• a trait that is expressed in an offspring if one parent contributes it

• a trait that expresses in an offspring only if both parents contribute it

• a train that can travel in two directions

What is an "allele"?

Example: Alleles contribute to the outward appearance of the organism.

• different versions of the same gene

• a trait that expresses in an offspring only if both parents contribute it

• a trait that is expressed in an offspring if one parent contributes it

What does "homozygous" mean?

Example: Individuals with recessive traits are homozygous for that trait, because both parents contributed matching alleles.

• having a pair of matching alleles for a trait

• different versions of the same gene

• parents

What does "heterozygous" mean?

Example: An individual whose alleles are different for the same trait is heterozygous for that trait.

• having a pair of matching alleles for a trait

• having unmatched alleles for a trait

• a trait that expresses in an offspring if one parent contributes it

What does "probability" mean?

Example: We can use a Punnett square based on the parents’ genes to determine the probability that an offspring will inherit a particular trait.

• a shape studied in Geometry

• the chance of something happening

• recessive