Genetics Vocabulary

The passing of traits from parent to offspring

• Genes

• Dominant Allele

• Heredity

• Heterozygous

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

Examples: Hair color, skin color, height, face shape

• Genetics

• Trait

• Gene

• Allele

An allele that is masked or covered up when a dominant allele is present

They are represented by LOWER CASE letters (a, b, q) 

• Gene

• Trait

• Recessive Allele

• Dominant Allele

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

They are represented by CAPITAL letters

• Recessive Allele

• Trait

• Punnett Square

• Dominant Allele

A genotype that contains two identical alleles. (BB or bb)

• Homozygous

• gene

• Heterozygous

• trait

A genotype that contains two different alleles (Bb)

• Trait

• Heterozygous

• Heredity

• Homozygous

A segment of DNA that is the instructions for an inherited trait

• Heredity

• Trait

• Gene

• Allele

A form of a gene; there may be one or more forms (the genes for blue eyes)

• Heredity

• Trait

• Gene

• Allele

An organism’s GENEtic make-up

We cannot see it! It is represented by alleles 

Aa, BB, bb, Yy

• Phenotype

• Heterozygous

• Genotype

• Trait

An organism’s physical appearance.

What can I see?

• Phenotype

• Heredity

• Heterozygous

• Genotype