| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| gene | A unit passed down from parent to child that holds information that determines certain characteristics of offspring. |
| genetics | The study of heredity and inherited characteristics. |
| inherited trait | A trait that is genetically passed down from parent to child. |
| acquired trait | A trait that you get or develop from the environment around you. |
| trait | A specific quality or attribute that typically sets something apart from something else. |
| mutation | An inconsistency in the genes of an organism. Often associated with asexual reproduction. |
| allele | Two or more alternate forms of a gene or characteristic. |
| dominant | The gene that has a higher chance of appearing in offspring. |
| recessive | The “hidden trait” that has less of a chance of appearing in offspring. |
| homozygous | Two identical alleles. |
| heterozygous | Two different alleles. |
| phenotype | The physical appearance of an organism. |
| genotype | The genetic appearance of an organism. |
| chromosome | Small structures made up of proteins that carry on organisms genetic information/DNA. |
| cell division | A process in which a cell splits itself into two identical cells. |
| DNA | (Also known as deoxyribonucleic acid) The carrier of a living organism’s genetic information. |
| co-dominant | A relationship between two versions of a gene in which neither gene is masked by the other. |
| incomplete dominance | A relationship in which two organisms with different phenotypes breed to produce offspring with a third phenotype that is a blend of the parents’ phenotypes. |
