| A | B |
|---|
| Allele | any of two or more alternate forms of a gene that an organism may have for a particular trait |
| DNA | a nucleic acid that carries genetic material; present in all cellular organisms |
| Dominance | tendency of certain (dominant) alleles to mask the expression of their corresponding (recessive) alleles |
| Gene | a specific part of a chromosome or sequence of DNA that determines a particular feature or characteristic in an organism |
| Genotype | the sum total of the genetic information contained in an organism |
| Heterozygous | cell or organism that has two different alleles for a particular trait |
| Homozygous | cell or organism that has identical rather than different alleles for a particular trait |
| Mutation | the process by which a gene undergoes a change in DNA sequence or a structural change |
| Phenotype | the appearance or other observable characteristic of an organism resulting from the interaction of its genetic makeup and its environment |
| Punnett Square | a graphic checkboard used to determine results from a particular genetic cross |
| Recessive | an allele for a trait that will be masked unless the organism is homozygous for this trait |
| RNA | a single-stranded nucleic acid consisting of a phosphate group and one of four nitrogenous bases that encodes information needed to synthesize proteins |
