Unit 8, Topic 2: Inheritance Vocabulary

genotype

• content of the genetic code of an individual organism

• the physical appearance of an organism

• the environment in which an organism lives

• the evolutionary history of an organism

probability

• the chance an event will occur

• the certainty that an event will not occur

• the likelihood of multiple events happening simultaneously

• the measure of an event's impact

chromosome

• structure in the nucleus that contains RNA

• structure in the nucleus that contains DNA

• a type of protein found in the cytoplasm

• a small organelle involved in energy production

allele

• version of a gene

• a type of chromosome

• a genetic mutation

• a protein structure

offspring

• new living things

• old living things

• inanimate objects

• dead organisms

incomplete dominance

• inheritance where the phenotype appears as a blending of traits

• inheritance where one trait completely masks another

• inheritance where traits are expressed equally

• inheritance that results in a mix of dominant traits

recessive allele

• version of a gene that another version can cover up

• a gene that always expresses itself

• a gene that is only expressed in the presence of another gene

• a gene that has no effect on the phenotype

inherit

• receive from parents

• give to children

• borrow from friends

• acquire through work

reproduction

• producing offspring

• creating new species

• developing genetic traits

• enhancing survival rates

gene

• segment of DNA that codes for a trait

• a type of protein that regulates cell function

• a molecule that carries genetic information

• a structure that produces energy in cells