Introduction to Biology - Genetics Module

The study of how traits are passed from parents to offspring.

The complete set of genetic instructions for an organism, including DNA, genes, and chromosomes.

The molecule that carries genetic information.

Segments of DNA that code for specific traits.

Structures within the nucleus of a cell that carry genes.

The passing of traits from parents to offspring.

The process of change in organisms over time.

A theory of evolution that proposes that organisms change over time based on their use or disuse of traits.

Alternative forms of a gene, which can result different traits

A trait that is expressed even if only one copy of the allele is present

A trait that is only expressed if two copies of the allele are present

The process of creating new species through changes in the genetic makeup of a population

A unit of DNA that contains instructions for a specific protein or molecule.

Molecules that perform a variety of critical roles in the structure and function of the body, from building tissues to carrying out complex chemical reactions.

A molecule that converts the information stored in DNA into a form that can be used to make proteins.

Different versions of the same gene.

The combination of alleles that an individual has for a particular gene.

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

An organism that has two identical alleles for a particular gene.

An organism that has two different alleles for a particular gene.

The genetic material found in chromosomes within the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. It holds the genetic code and serves as the instruction manual for an organism's growth, development, and function.

The four chemical compounds that make up the genetic code of DNA. They are Adenine (A), Cytosine (C), Guanine (G), and Thymine (T).

Pairs of nucleotide bases in DNA: Adenine (A) pairs with Thymine (T), and Cytosine (C) pairs with Guanine (G).

The specific order or sequence of nucleotide bases in DNA, which determines the instructions for building and maintaining an organism.

A type of nucleic acid involved in protein synthesis. It carries information from DNA to ribosomes, where it acts as a template for protein production.

The process of copying the genetic information from DNA into RNA.

The process of using RNA as a template to synthesize proteins.

The flow of genetic information in nature, from DNA to RNA and then to protein.

During gamete formation, each allele of a gene separates so that each gamete receives only one allele. This ensures that offspring inherit one allele from each parent.

The law of segregation states that alleles separate randomly during gamete formation.

The inheritance of one character is independent of the inheritance of another character.

The Law of Independent Assortment states that different genes are inherited separately from each other.

An organism inherits two alleles for each trait. These alleles can be the same (homozygous) or different (heterozygous).

The dominant allele masks the expression of the recessive allele when both are present.

The alleles of different genes are assorted into gametes independently of each other. This means the inheritance of one trait does not influence the inheritance of another.

A gene's physical location on a chromosome. Think of it as the address of a gene.

An organism with two identical alleles for a particular gene.

An organism with two different alleles for a particular gene.

An allele that expresses its trait even when paired with a different allele.

An allele that only expresses its trait when paired with another identical allele.