| A | B |
|---|
| gene | a specific location on a chromosome. |
| trait | a unique characteristic. |
| chromosome | long strands of DNA. |
| DNA | The chemical building block of life. |
| genotype | The gene makeup of a trait. |
| phenotype | The physical characteristic of a trait. (what you see) |
| heredity | The passing on of genes from parent to offspring |
| Genetics | The science that studies heredity. |
| Gregor Mendel | The father of genetics. |
| dominant | The stronger of two traits. |
| recessive | The weaker of two traits. |
| mitosis | The type of cell division where DNA is copied |
| meiosis | The type of cell division where each cell gets only half (23) chromosomes. |
| haploid | One complete set of chromosomes. (23) |
| diploid | Two complete sets of chromosomes. (46) |
| Male genes | XY |
| Female genes | XX |
| mutation | A permanent change in DNA |
| albino | Lack of pigment |
| variation | The appearance of an inherited trait or behavior that makes you unique. |
| Principle of Dominance and Recessiveness | One gene in the pair may mask the effect of the other. |
| Principle of Segregation | the genes for a characteristic seperate during formation of egg and sperm. |
| Principle of Independent Assortment | The genes for different characteristics are distributed to egg and sperm cells independently |
| Pedigree | A tool used to show the history of a trait from one generation to the next. |
