Genetics Overview and Exceptions to Mendel's Laws

The study of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms.

A specific location on a chromosome that contains the genetic instructions for a trait.

The complete set of genetic instructions for an organism, encoded in DNA.

Different forms of a gene, each carrying slightly different instructions for a trait.

The genetic makeup of an individual, the combination of alleles they possess.

The observable physical characteristics of an individual, determined by their genotype and environmental influences.

The transfer of genetic information from parents to offspring.

Changes in the DNA sequence that can lead to variations in traits.

Using genetic testing to predict the likelihood of developing a disease or the risk of a particular condition based on family history and personal genetic makeup.

Testing for the presence of genes that increase the likelihood of developing a specific disease, even if the individual does not yet show symptoms.

Genetic testing performed on embryos before implantation in in vitro fertilization (IVF), allowing parents to select embryos free from specific genetic disorders.

The study of how a person's genes influence their response to medications, helping doctors personalize drug therapy.

A therapy that aims to cure or alleviate genetic disorders by replacing, modifying, or inactivating genes.

A type of inheritance where neither allele is dominant, and the heterozygous phenotype is a blend of the two homozygous phenotypes.

A type of inheritance where both alleles are expressed equally in the heterozygote, resulting in a phenotype that shows both traits.

A situation where an allele is present but doesn't always produce its expected phenotype.

A gene having more than two possible alleles in a population.

An allele that causes death when present in a homozygous state.

Interactions between multiple genes influencing a single trait.

A gene that influences multiple, seemingly unrelated traits.

Genes located close together on the same chromosome tend to be inherited together.

A type of RNA that serves as a template for protein synthesis, carrying genetic information from DNA to ribosomes.

A process that involves copying genetic information from DNA into mRNA. This is the first step in gene expression.

A single-stranded nucleic acid that plays a key role in gene expression.

A nitrogenous base found in RNA, replacing thymine (T) in DNA. It pairs with adenine (A) during transcription.

A region of DNA that signals the start of a gene and where transcription begins.

A region of DNA that signals the end of a gene, where transcription ends.

A modified guanine nucleotide added to the 5' end of mRNA during post-transcriptional processing. It protects the mRNA from degradation.

A sequence of adenine nucleotides added to the 3' end of mRNA during post-transcriptional processing. It helps with mRNA stability and translation.

The boundary that separates a cell from its environment. It's a thin, flexible sheet of molecules that acts as a barrier, regulating the exchange of nutrients, water, and gases.

A rigid outer layer that surrounds the plasma membrane of many prokaryotic cells, providing protection from pressure changes caused by water movement.

The watery interior of a cell where the DNA and other cell machinery reside.

A single, circular piece of DNA found in the cytoplasm of prokaryotes.

Organisms whose cells have a nucleus, which houses the DNA.

The membrane-bound compartment in eukaryotic cells that safeguards the DNA.

Separate pieces of DNA found within the nucleus of eukaryotic cells.

The process by which organisms maintain a stable internal environment despite changes in the external environment.

A specific location on a chromosome where a gene resides.

A pair of chromosomes that carry the same genes but can have different alleles for those genes.

The process of cell division that produces two identical daughter cells from a single parent cell.

A cell that is not a sex cell (sperm or egg); these cells make up your body's tissues and organs.