| A | B |
| Law of Dominance | When an organism is hybrid for a pair of contrasting traits, only the dominant trait can be seen in the hybrid. |
| Law of Segregation | factors (genes) that occur in pairs are separated from each other during meiosis and recombined at fertilization |
| chromosomes | genes are found on these structures |
| gene | a sequence of nucleotides in DNA that codes for a particular protein |
| alleles | different forms of the same gene (ex: T or t) |
| homozygous | containing two alleles that are the same (ex: tt or TT) |
| heterozygous | containing two alleles that are different (ex: Tt) |
| genotype | the genetic makeup of an organism (ex: Tt) |
| phenotype | the physical trait that an organism develops as a result of its genotype (ex: tall) |
| Law of Independent Assortment | During meiosis, genes for different traits are separated and distributed to gametes independently of one another |
| incomplete dominance | occurs when two alleles contribute to the phenotype;traits blend |
| codominance | both traits are expressed at the same time |
| multiple alleles | more than two alleles for the same trait (ex:blood type in humans) |
| genotype of a male | XY |
| genotype of a female | XX |
| sex chromosomes | chromosomes that determine the sex of an organism |
| sex-linked traits | traits that are controlled by genes on the sex chromosomes (usually the X) |
| examples of sex-linked traits in humans | hemophilia, color-blindness |
| linkage group | all of the genes that are on the same chromosome |
| crossing-over | pieces of homologous chromosomes are exchanged during meiosis |
| multiple-gene or polygenic inheritance | when two or more independent genes affect one trait |
| nucleotides | building blocks of nucleic acids (RNA and DNA) |
| sugar, phosphate, nitrogen base | parts of a nucleotide |
| Adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine | the nitrogen bases of DNA |
| adenine, uracil, cytosine, guanine | the nitrogen bases of RNA |
| DNA replication | forms two new molecules of DNA, each with one old strand and one new strand |
| semi-conservative | term used to describe DNA replication |
| messenger RNA | a strand of RNA that copies a genetic message from DNA |
| codon | a group of three bases on mRNA that specifies an amino acid |
| transfer RNA | a molecule of RNA that carries an amino acid to the ribosome in order to assemble a protein |
| anticodon | a sequence of 3 bases in tRNA that is complementary to the codon of mRNA |
| transcription | the formation of codons by the mRNA |
| translation | process by which information in mRNA is used by tRNA to assemble a protein |
| operon | in prokaryotes; a group of genes that work together to code for the production of a protein |
| structural gene | gene that codes for a protein |
| regulator gene | gene that codes for a repressor protein, which keeps the operator gene turned off |
| operator gene | gene next to the structural gene which must be turned on in order for expression of that gene to occur |
| exon | In eukarotes, portion of DNA that codes for a protein |
| intron | in eukaryotes; portion of DNA that does NOT code for protein |
| factors influencing gene expression | shape of DNA, temperature, pH |
| oncogenes | genes that cause some kinds of cancer |
| mutation | sudden change in structure or amount of DNA |
| types of chromosomal mutations | addition, deletion, translocation, inversion, nondisjunction, polyploidy |
| types of gene mutations | point mutation, frameshift mutation |
| chromosomal mutation | change in the structure of all or part of a chromosome |
| gene mutation | change that affects a gene on a chromosome |
| mutagens | environmental factors that cause mutations |
| nondisjunction | the addition or loss of a whole chromosome due to failure of homologous chromosomes to separate during meiosis |
| polyploidy | failure of a set of chromosomes to separate, resulting in cells with a multiple of the diploid number (3n, 4n, etc) |
| point mutation | substitution of one nucleotide for another, resulting in change in one codon, one amino acid |
| frameshift mutation | deletion or addition of a nucleotide, resulting in change in every codon after that point |
| human chromosomal disorders | Down syndrome, Klinefelter's syndrome, Turner's syndrome |
| human genetic disorders | sickle cell anemia, hemophilia |
| karyotype | a chart showing all of an organism's chromosomes, arranged in homologous pairs |
| amniocentesis | removal of amniotic fluid surrounding fetus, used to test for genetic diseases |
| chorionic villus sampling | portion of chorion is removed to test for genetic disease |
| ultrasound | sound waves are bounced off fetus to produce an image |
| genetic engineering | manipulation of DNA to produce changes in an organism |
| restriction enzymes | enzymes used to cut DNA into fragments in order to isolate a gene |
| recombinant DNA | DNA formed by inserting a gene from one organism into the DNA of a different organism |
| transgenic organism | an organism that contains genes from a foreign organism |
| gene therapy | replacement of defective genes by transferring normal genes into cells that lack them |
| genome | all of the genes possessed by an organism |