Questions and Answers
What is one of two or more forms that a gene could take?
allele
What molecule found in the cell nucleus encodes genetic information?
DNA
What is an allele that is always expressed when it is present called?
dominant allele
What segment of DNA determines or helps to determine a trait?
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What is the genetic makeup of an organism called?
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What is the term for the passage of genetic information from a parent or parents to offspring?
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What do you call having two alleles that are different?
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What do you call having two alleles that are the same?
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What is the term for the offspring of genetically different parents?
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What is the term for the passage of genetic material from parents to offspring?
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The physical appearance of an organism is known as its ______.
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What is a diagram that shows the possible offspring of two parents?
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What is an allele that is not expressed when the dominant allele is present?
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What is a characteristic of an organism called?
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Which parent combinations yield only white offspring?
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Which parent combinations yield only black offspring?
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Which parent combinations yield a mixture of black and white offspring?
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Traits are passed down by ______.
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Explain how heredity works in terms of alleles in mice.
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Discuss the inheritance of traits with more than 2 phenotypes.
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Study Notes
Genetics Terminology
- Allele: One of the multiple forms a gene can take.
- DNA: Molecule located in the nucleus of cells that encodes genetic information; short for deoxyribonucleic acid.
- Dominant Allele: An allele that is expressed whenever it is present, typically represented by a capital letter (e.g., F).
- Gene: A DNA segment responsible for determining traits and instructing the production of specific proteins.
- Genotype: The genetic constitution of an organism; the specific alleles present.
Genetic Processes
- Heredity: The transfer of genetic information from parent(s) to offspring.
- Inheritance: The mechanism by which an organism receives genetic material from its parents; involves receiving one allele from each parent for each gene.
Genetic Characteristics
- Heterozygous: Having two different alleles for a trait.
- Homozygous: Having two identical alleles for a trait.
- Hybrid: The offspring produced from genetically distinct parents (e.g., Ff from FF and ff parents).
- Phenotype: The observable characteristics of an organism; can be the same despite different genotypes (e.g., FF and Ff mice both appear black).
Genetic Tools and Concepts
- Punnett Square: A chart used to predict the possible genotypes of offspring from two parents, useful for calculating genetic probabilities.
- Recessive Allele: An allele that is not expressed in the presence of a dominant allele, typically depicted with a lowercase letter (e.g., f).
- Trait: A distinguishing characteristic of an organism, such as skin color, hair type, or allergies.
Specific Genetic Outcomes
- White Offspring: Results from breeding two pure white parents.
- Black Offspring: Results from breeding two pure black parents.
- Mixture of Offspring: Produced by crossing two hybrid black parents or a hybrid black parent with a pure white parent.
Laws of Genetics
- Law of Dominance: Some traits, such as black fur, will mask others, like white fur, when a dominant allele is present.
- Law of Segregation: During gamete formation, alleles segregate so that offspring receive one allele from each parent, contributing to phenotypic diversity, especially in hybrid cases.
Complexity of Inheritance
- Multiple Phenotypes: Many traits exhibit more than two possible outcomes (e.g., diverse human skin tones), indicating that inheritance can be complex beyond simple dominant-recessive relationships.
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Test your knowledge of mouse genetics with these flashcards! Each card features key terms and definitions related to genetics, including important concepts like alleles and DNA. Perfect for students studying genetics or preparing for exams.
