Definitions

Question 1

albinism

Answer 1

A rare group of genetic disorders that cause the skin to lack melanin

Question 2

alleles

Answer 2

Versions of a gene

Question 3

autosomes

Answer 3

First 22 pairs of chromosomes in a human

Question 4

biotechnology

Answer 4

Using scientific procedures to influence specific processes in living organisms to benefit humans

Question 5

carrier

Answer 5

Has the recessive allele and a dominant allele, therefore has a normal phenotype

Question 6

chiasmata

Answer 6

Point of crossing over where the chromatids break

Question 7

chromatid

Answer 7

Made up of one helical DNA molecule

Question 8

cloning

Answer 8

The process to create an exact copy of another gene, cell, tissue or organism

Question 9

cytokinesis

Answer 9

Division of the cytoplasm

Question 10

dominant

Answer 10

The trait

Question 11

Down syndrome

Answer 11

Occurs in children who are born with an extra chromosome 21 (trisomy)

Question 12

forensics

Answer 12

The use of different scientific technologies

Question 13

gamete

Answer 13

Reproductive cell/ sex cell

Question 14

gene pool

Answer 14

Set of all genes or genetic information in a population

Question 15

genes

Answer 15

Sections of DNA that control heredity characteristics

Question 16

genotype

Answer 16

Genetic makeup of an organism

Question 17

gonosome

Answer 17

Sex chromosomes X or Y chromosomes

Question 18

Gregor Mendel

Answer 18

Father of genetics

Question 19

haemophilia

Answer 19

A rare genetically determined condition of frequent, excessive bleeding

Question 20

heterozygous

Answer 20

The pair of alleles at a particular locus are different

Question 21

homozygous

Answer 21

Having two identical alleles for a particular characteristic

Question 22

Hox genes

Answer 22

Master control genes that determine the way in which the body develops from a zygote

Question 23

karyotype

Answer 23

All the chromosomes in a cell, showing their size, number and shape

Question 24

ligase enzyme

Answer 24

Acts as a ‘genetic juice’ joining together the ends of two single strands of DNA

Question 25

locus

Answer 25

Position on a chromosome

Question 26

micropropagation

Answer 26

A method widely used to produce clones of a plant

Question 27

mutagens

Answer 27

Factors that increase the rate of mutations

Question 28

mutation

Answer 28

Any alteration in the genetic makeup (genetic code)

Question 29

GMO's

Answer 29

Genetically modified organisms

Question 30

PCR

Answer 30

Polymerase chain reaction a laboratory technique used to make multiple copies of a segment of DNA

Question 31

phenotype

Answer 31

An organism's outward (physical) appearance

Question 32

plasmid

Answer 32

A circular, double stranded DNA molecule found in bacteria that is not part of the bacterial chromosome

Question 33

point mutation

Answer 33

Changes that involve a single nucleotide

Question 34

polygenic

Answer 34

More than one pair of alleles responsible for a single trait

Question 35

polyploidy

Answer 35

A condition of having more than two copies of chromosomes e.g. 6n

Question 36

recombinant

Answer 36

DNA technology used to introduce new genes to create GMO's

Question 37

restriction

Answer 37

The type of enzyme that cuts plasmid

Question 38

segregation

Answer 38

Law that states that during meiosis allele pairs separate so that the gametes have a single allele for each characteristic

Question 39

sex linked

Answer 39

Alleles carried on the non-homologous part of an X chromosome

Question 40

somatic cell

Answer 40

Body cell containing an exact copy of all genes in that organism

Question 41

vector

Answer 41

A virus or plasmid that transfers foreign genetic material into another cell