Genetics Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is a gene?
A unit of heredity that is passed from parent to offspring and determines some characteristic of the offspring.
True or False: Genes are made up of DNA.
True
What is a genotype?
The genetic makeup of an organism.
What is a phenotype?
The observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism.
What is genetic variation?
Differences in DNA sequences among individuals within a population.
What is a dominant allele?
An allele that is expressed in the phenotype even if only one copy is present in the genotype.
What is a recessive allele?
An allele that is only expressed in the phenotype if two copies are present in the genotype.
What is a homozygous genotype?
When an individual has two identical alleles for a particular gene.
What is a heterozygous genotype?
When an individual has two different alleles for a particular gene.
What is a Punnett square used for?
To predict the possible genotypes and phenotypes of offspring in a genetic cross.
What is genetic drift?
A change in the frequency of alleles in a population due to random events.
What is a genetic mutation?
A permanent change in the DNA sequence of a gene.
What is genetic engineering?
The manipulation of an organism’s genes to achieve a desired trait.
What is a transgenic organism?
An organism that has been genetically modified by introducing genes from another species.
What is selective breeding?
The process of choosing organisms with desirable traits to breed and pass on those traits to the next generation.
What is a genetic marker?
A gene or DNA sequence with a known location on a chromosome that can be used to identify individuals or species.
What is a genetic disorder?
A condition caused by abnormalities in an individual’s DNA.
What is a pedigree analysis?
The study of an individual’s ancestors and family tree to determine the inheritance of a particular trait.
What is the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?
A principle stating that allele and genotype frequencies in a population will remain constant from generation to generation in the absence of other evolutionary influences.
What is epigenetics?
The study of changes in gene expression that are not caused by alterations in the DNA sequence.
What is a genetic counselor?
A healthcare professional trained in genetics and counseling who helps individuals understand and make decisions about genetic conditions.
What is the central dogma of molecular biology?
The process by which genetic information is transferred from DNA to RNA to protein.
What is a gene knockout?
The process of inactivating a gene to study its function.
What is a genetic screen?
A method used to identify genes involved in a particular biological process by analyzing the phenotypes of organisms with mutations.
