Genetics Fundamentals

Genetics: the study of heredity, genes, and genetic variation
Genome: the complete set of genetic information in an organism
Chromosomes: thread-like structures carrying genetic information in the nucleus
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid): the molecule that contains genetic information
Genes: segments of DNA that code for specific traits or functions

Mendel's Laws:
- Law of Segregation: each pair of alleles separates during gamete formation
- Law of Independent Assortment: alleles for different genes are sorted independently
- Law of Dominance: one allele can be dominant over another
Inheritance Patterns:
- autosomal dominant: one copy of the allele is enough to express the trait
- autosomal recessive: two copies of the allele are needed to express the trait
- X-linked: genes on the X chromosome

Vertebrate Zoology: study of animals with backbones (e.g., fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals)
Invertebrate Zoology: study of animals without backbones (e.g., insects, arachnids, mollusks, echinoderms)
Entomology: study of insects
Herpetology: study of reptiles and amphibians
Ornithology: study of birds
Mammalogy: study of mammals

Taxonomy: the classification of organisms into groups based on their characteristics
Hierarchy of Classification:
1. Domain: highest level of classification
2. Kingdom: second highest level of classification
3. Phylum: level of classification that groups organisms based on body structure
4. Class: level of classification that groups organisms based on shared characteristics
5. Order: level of classification that groups organisms based on evolutionary relationships
6. Family: level of classification that groups organisms based on shared characteristics
7. Genus: level of classification that groups organisms based on shared characteristics
8. Species: most specific level of classification

Adaptation: the process of an organism changing to better fit its environment
Evolution: the change in the characteristics of a species over time
Habitat: the natural environment in which an organism lives
Niche: the specific role an organism plays in its environment
Ecological Niche: the specific role an organism plays in its ecosystem

Genetics studies heredity, genes, and genetic variation, which is contained in the genome, the complete set of genetic information in an organism.
Chromosomes are thread-like structures carrying genetic information in the nucleus, and they contain DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid), the molecule that contains genetic information.
Genes are segments of DNA that code for specific traits or functions.

Mendel's Laws govern genetic inheritance, including:
- Law of Segregation: each pair of alleles separates during gamete formation.
- Law of Independent Assortment: alleles for different genes are sorted independently.
- Law of Dominance: one allele can be dominant over another.
Inheritance Patterns include:
- Autosomal dominant: one copy of the allele is enough to express the trait.
- Autosomal recessive: two copies of the allele are needed to express the trait.
- X-linked: genes on the X chromosome.

Vertebrate Zoology studies animals with backbones (e.g., fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals).
Invertebrate Zoology studies animals without backbones (e.g., insects, arachnids, mollusks, echinoderms).
Entomology is the study of insects.
Herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians.
Ornithology is the study of birds.
Mammalogy is the study of mammals.

Taxonomy is the classification of organisms into groups based on their characteristics.
The Hierarchy of Classification consists of:
- Domain: the highest level of classification.
- Kingdom: the second highest level of classification.
- Phylum: groups organisms based on body structure.
- Class: groups organisms based on shared characteristics.
- Order: groups organisms based on evolutionary relationships.
- Family: groups organisms based on shared characteristics.
- Genus: groups organisms based on shared characteristics.
- Species: the most specific level of classification.

Adaptation is the process of an organism changing to better fit its environment.
Evolution is the change in the characteristics of a species over time.
Habitat is the natural environment in which an organism lives.
Niche is the specific role an organism plays in its environment.
Ecological Niche is the specific role an organism plays in its ecosystem.