Genetics Flashcards
(28 cards)
Allele
One of two or more different versions of the same gene
Cloning
The process of isolating and making copies of a gene
Codominance
Both alleles are expressed equally in the phenotype of the heterozygote
Dominant
Allele that masks the presence of another allele for the same gene
Gametes
Reproductive cell produced during meiosis that has the haploid number of chromosomes
Genetic engineering
Using biotechnology to change the genetic makeup of an organism
Genetics
The science of heredity
Genotype
Alleles an individual inherits (Red flower - RR, Rr, or rr)
Heredity
How parents pass characteristics to their offspring
Heterozygote
Organism that inherits two different alleles for a given gene
Homozygote
Organism that inherits two alleles of the same type for a given gene
Hybrid
Offspring that results from a cross between two different types of parents
Inbreeding
Breeding from closely related people or animals
Incomplete dominance
Occurs when the dominant allele is not completely dominant (Red flower + white flower = pink flower)
Mutation
Change in the sequence of bases in the DNA or the RNA
Pedigree
A chart showing how a trait is passed from generation to generation within a family
Phenotype
Characteristics of an organism that depend on how the organism’s genotype is expressed (Red flower rather than Rr)
Punnet square
A chart used to predict the outcome of a particular cross breeding experiment
Recessive
Allele that is masked by the presence of another allele
Selective breeding
The intentional mating of two organisms in attempt to produce an offspring with desirable characteristics or the elimination of a trait all together
Sex-linked trait
Traits controlled by a gene located in the sex chromosome
Transgenic organism
An organism the obtains genetic material that has been genetically modified or engineered
3 reasons genetic engineering could be helpful? 3 reasons genetic engineering could be harmful?
Helpful:
- Save endangered species
- Make copies of useful genes
- Create expierental groups for studying (advances in the medical field)
Harmful:
- Possibly unsafe / unhealthy to consume genetically modified foods
- Genetically engineered crop may not be safe for the environment: may harm other organisms and ecosystems
- Legal issue: Who would own genetically modified organisms like bacteria? Issue of patenting
What are codominance and incomplete dominance? How are they different from each other?
- Codominance: Both alleles expressed equally in the phenotype
- Incomplete dominance: One allele is only partly dominant and the other also appears
- Both alleles appear in codominance, and a mix of the two appear in incomplete dominance
- Example: A flower programmed to be red or white:
- Codominance: The flower has both red and white petals because of the codominance in the red-petal and white-petal alleles)
- Incomplete dominance: The flower had pink petals because of the incomplete dominance of the red-petal allele and the recessive white-petal allele