| A | B |
|---|
| inherited trait | characteristics that are passed from parent to offspring |
| natural selection | the survival and successful reproduction of the organisms that are best suited to their environment |
| acquired trait | a trait influenced by experience or the environment |
| hybrid | organisms that have inherited two different forms of the same trait- one from each parent |
| dominant trait | the form of an inherited trait that masks the other form of the same trait |
| recessive trait | the hidden form of an inherited trait which will only show in the phenotype if it is paired with another recessive gene |
| gene | the portion of the chromosome that controls a particular inherited trait |
| chromosome | the threadlike structures in the nucleus that contain directions for cell activities |
| genotype | the genes that are inherited by an organism for a particular trait |
| phenotype | the way in which an organism expresses or shows its traits |
| X and Y chromosomes | sex chromosomes that determine gender or whether an organism is male or female |
| pedigree | a chart that traces the history of a trait within a particular family |
| carrier | one who has inherited the gene for a particular trait but does not express that trait |
| genetic disorder | a condition that is caused by mutations or changes in the gene or set of genes |
| DNA | deoxyribonnucleic acid which is a long complex molecule that contains the genetic code for an organism |
| genome | all the DNA that makes up an organism |
| genetic engineering | a way of intentionally changing the DNA sequence of a gene so that the gene will produce a particular trait |
| geneticist | a scientist who studies how heredity works |
| gene splicing | adding the genes from one organism to the genes of another organism |
| clone | a living organism that recieves all of its DNA from one parent and is genetically identical to that parent |
| variation | a genetic difference among members of the same species that may enable individuals to better survive and reproduce |
| mutation | A change in an organisms DNA |
| genetics | the study of heredity |
