Mendelian Genetics and Inheritance Patterns

A physical unit of inheritance that maintains its identity when passed from parents to offspring. These units are responsible for determining specific traits.

The physical location of a gene on a chromosome.

Different forms of the same gene. They contribute to variations within traits.

An individual with two identical alleles for a particular gene.

An individual with two different alleles for a particular gene.

The specific combination of alleles an individual possesses for a particular gene.

The observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an individual resulting from their genotype.

A trait determined by a single gene, often resulting in distinct categories.

Segments of DNA that code for proteins. They are transcribed into RNA and translated into protein.

Segments of DNA that do not code for proteins. They are transcribed into RNA but are removed before translation.

Genes that regulate gene expression through enhancers or silencers, determining which genes, where, and when are expressed.

A sequence of three consecutive DNA bases that codes for a specific amino acid, the building blocks of proteins. It's the smallest unit of functional genetic information.

The process of a gene being transcribed into RNA and then translated into a protein. This helps us understand the relationship between genes and proteins.

A change in the frequency of alleles in a breeding population from generation to generation.

The ultimate source of all new genetic variation, involving a change in the sequence of DNA bases.

Mutations that have no significant positive or negative effects on an individual's fitness. They do not provide any advantage or disadvantage.

Movement of individuals from one breeding population to another, leading to gene exchange and potentially altering genetic diversity.

A process where organisms with traits better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those beneficial traits to their offspring.

A type of natural selection where the environment favors one extreme phenotype over others, causing a shift in the population's average trait in a specific direction.

Continuous trait affected by multiple genes, often displaying a range of values, such as height or beak size.

A type of natural selection where the average phenotype within a population is favored, leading to reduced variation and stabilization of the trait.

A type of natural selection where individuals with intermediate phenotypes have higher survival rates compared to individuals with extreme phenotypes, leading to the maintenance of two or more alleles in a population.

A type of natural selection where a single gene with two or more alleles influences a discrete phenotype.

An example of directional selection where the average beak size of a population of finches changed in response to environmental changes, demonstrating adaptation to specific food sources due to natural selection.

An example of directional selection where industrial pollution favored darker moths, demonstrating the influence of environmental changes on natural selection.

A genetic condition where individuals with the sickle cell trait (AS) are resistant to malaria, illustrating balanced polymorphism.

A genetic condition where individuals carry two copies of the sickle cell allele (SS) and experience severe health complications.

A genetic condition where individuals carry one copy of the sickle cell allele (AS) and exhibit a mild form of the disease with some resistance to malaria.

A genetic condition where individuals lack the sickle cell allele (AA) and are susceptible to malaria.

A type of natural selection where a population exhibits stable frequencies of two or more alleles due to the selective advantage of heterozygotes.

A type of natural selection where individuals with intermediate phenotypes have higher survival rates due to the environment favoring the average trait.

A form of inheritance where both alleles contribute equally to the phenotype, resulting in a blended or intermediate expression.

The specific DNA sequence responsible for producing hemoglobin, a protein crucial for oxygen transport in red blood cells. Different variations of this gene lead to different forms of hemoglobin.

A form of natural selection where the extremes of a trait are favored over the average, leading to a split in the population.

The parasite responsible for causing malaria, a serious disease spread through mosquito bites.

A type of mosquito that carries the Plasmodium parasite and transmits it to humans through bites.

The process by which Plasmodium falciparium infects humans, replicates inside red blood cells, and is transmitted back to mosquitos, completing its lifecycle.