| A | B |
|---|
| allele | gene form for each variation of a trait |
| crossing over | exchange of genetic material resulting in new combinations of alleles |
| dihybrid cross | fertilization between two organisms; used to study the inheritance of two different traits |
| diploid | cell with two copies of each type of chromosome |
| dominant | visible trait of an organism that masks a recessive form of the same trait |
| fertilization | fusion of male and female gametes |
| gamete | male and female sex cells; pollen (or sperm) and egg |
| genetic recombination | major source of genetic variation resulting from cross over or random assortment |
| genetics | branch of biology that studies heredity |
| genotype | an organism's gene combination |
| haploid | cell that has half the number of chromosomes |
| heredity | passing on of characteristics from parents to offsring |
| heterozygous | having non-identical alleles for a particular trait |
| homozygous | having identical alleles for a particular trait |
| law of independent assortment | Mendelian principle that different traits are inherited independently if they are on different chromosomes |
| law of segregation | Mendelian principle that explains the reappearance of a trait in the F2 generation |
| meiosis | cell division where one diploid cell produces four haploid cells |
| phenotype | outward appearance of an organism, regardless of its genes |
| pollination | in a flower, the transfering of pollen to the female stigma |
| recessive | hidden trait of an organism that is masked by a dominant trait |
| sexual reproduction | reproductive pattern in which haploid gametes fuse to produce a diploid zygote |
| sperm | male sex cell or gamete |
| trait | an inherited characteristic |
| zygote | fertilized egg having a diploid number of chromosomes; develops into an organism |
| egg | female sex cell or gamete |
