Essentials of Biology Chapter 7

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Questions and Answers

What does a dominant allele represent?

A weak allele

A strong allele (correct)

A recessive trait

None of the above

What is a recessive allele?

An allele that determines the phenotype

An allele that is expressed only when homozygous (correct)

A strong form of a gene

None of the above

What is self-pollination?

The transfer of pollen grains from an anther to the stigma of the same flower or another flower on the same plant.

What is a trait?

A characteristic inherited from parents. Signup and view all the answers

What are alleles?

Different forms of a gene. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Punnett Square?

A graphical way to show all possible combinations of alleles from two parents' genotypes. Signup and view all the answers

What are homozygotes?

Individuals having identical alleles for a gene. Signup and view all the answers

What are heterozygotes?

Individuals having two different alleles for a gene. Signup and view all the answers

What is phenotype?

The appearance of an organism; its visible traits. Signup and view all the answers

What is genotype?

The set of genes that an organism has. Signup and view all the answers

What is a mutation?

A change in a gene. Signup and view all the answers

What are some causes of a mutated gene?

Harmful chemicals, radiation, pollution, UV rays. Signup and view all the answers

What is a pedigree?

A chart of a family history. Signup and view all the answers

What is a genetic disorder?

An inherited disease caused by a mutation in a gene or by a chromosomal defect. Signup and view all the answers

What is a gene?

A piece of genetic information; a piece of DNA coding for a specific trait. Signup and view all the answers

Can an offspring inherit Tay Sachs if neither parent exhibits the phenotype?

True Signup and view all the answers

What is cross-pollination?

A reproductive process in which pollen from one plant is transferred to the stigma of another plant. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Gregor Mendel?

A monk and botanist known as the founder of genetics. Signup and view all the answers

What is Mendel's Theory of Independent Assortment?

Different pairs of alleles are passed to offspring independently. Signup and view all the answers

What is a hybrid?

An organism with two different alleles for a trait. Signup and view all the answers

What is a pure breed?

An organism that has the same alleles for a trait over generations. Signup and view all the answers

What do genetic counselors do?

They provide information on genetic diseases and inherited conditions. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Key Genetics Concepts

Dominant Allele: Represented by a capital letter, fully expressed in heterozygotes, indicating a strong gene.
Recessive Allele: Denoted by a lowercase letter; only expressed in homozygous individuals, indicating a weaker gene.
Alleles: Varieties of a gene that can be either dominant or recessive.
Hybrid Organism: Has two different alleles for a trait, resulting from cross-breeding.

Reproductive Processes

Self-Pollination: Occurs when an organism fertilizes itself, transferring pollen within the same flower or to another on the same plant.
Cross Pollination: Involves the transfer of pollen from one plant to another plant's stigma.

Genetic Terms

Phenotype: The observable characteristics or physical expression of an organism.
Genotype: The genetic constitution of an organism, comprising specific allele combinations.
Trait: An inherited characteristic passed from parents to offspring.
Zygote: The initial cell formed when a sperm cell fertilizes an egg cell.

Genetic Study and Theories

Mendel's Experiments: Gregor Mendel's work with garden peas laid the foundation of genetics, demonstrating that parent traits do not blend but are inherited distinctly.
Independent Assortment: Mendel’s principle stating that different allele pairs segregate independently during gamete formation.

Genetic Analysis Tools

Punnett Square: A diagram used to predict the genotypes of offspring from parental alleles.
Pedigree: A family tree chart illustrating the inheritance of traits across generations.

Genetic Disorders

Genetic Disorder: An inherited condition resulting from mutations or chromosomal defects.
Causes of Mutations: Can arise from harmful chemicals, radiation, pollution, or UV exposure.

Inheritance Patterns

Homogeneous: Organisms with identical alleles for a gene.
Heterogeneous: Organisms with different alleles for a gene.
Purebred: Organisms consistently exhibiting a single trait, generation after generation.

Genetic Counseling

Genetic Counselors: Professionals who provide guidance on genetic conditions and risks, often utilized when there's a family history of genetic disorders.

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Description

Explore the key concepts of Genetics and Inheritance in this flashcard quiz based on Chapter 7 of Essentials of Biology. Learn about dominant and recessive alleles, and how they shape phenotypes in organisms. Test your knowledge and reinforce your understanding of genetic principles.