Biology and Genetics Terms

inherit

• to get a trait from parents

• to lose a trait over time

• to adopt a new trait from the environment

• to pass on a trait to offspring

fruit

• the part of a plant that contains seeds inside a covering, like tomatoes

• a type of vegetable that grows underground

• a sweet substance produced by flowers

• a part of the plant that absorbs water and nutrients from the soil

natural selection

• a process where certain traits help a living thing survive, so those traits are more likely to be passed to the next generation of offspring

• a method of breeding plants and animals for specific traits

• a theory that explains the origin of species through random mutations

• a phenomenon where all individuals in a population have equal chances of survival

flower

• a part of a plant that is usually brightly colored

• a type of fruit that grows on trees

• a green part of a plant that absorbs sunlight

• a structure that stores water for the plant

breed

• a group of living things with specific traits that have been selected by people over time; for example, pugs are a breed of dog

• a type of food that is commonly consumed by animals

• a method of training pets to perform tricks

• a classification of animals based on their habitat

siblings

• offspring that have the same parents

• children from different families

• individuals who share a common ancestor

• friends who grow up together

graph

• an image that helps you understand information

• a type of chart used for statistical data

• a mathematical equation representing a relationship

• a visual representation of a concept or idea

leaf

• a part of a plant that is often flat and green

• a type of flower

• a part of the root system

• a structure that stores water

offspring

• puppies

• kittens

• babies

• cubs

environment

• all the living and nonliving things in a particular place

• only the living things in a particular area

• the weather conditions of a specific region

• the geographical features of a location