Inheritance Flashcards
Why are people different?
Because they inherit different characteristics (or traits) from their parents
What are examples of inherited characteristics?
eye colour, earlobe shape
What are inherited characteristics?
Characteristics which are only determined by genes
What are examples of acquired characteristics?
Scars, hair length, etc
What are acquired characteristics?
Other characteristics that are not inherited, which depend on environmental factors.
What is a phenotype?
observable characteristics or traits of individuals
What is a genotype?
Actual genetic information carried by individuals that are not gained through the environment.
A phenotype depends on ___ + ___
genotype + environmental factors
What are genes?
The basic unit of inheritance which is a segment of DNA which controls one specific characteristic.
They contain codes needed to produce proteins.
What is a locus?
A gene’s location which is located on the same position on the same chromosome.
What are Alleles?
Variations of genes which occupy the same position on homologous chromosomes.
What do alleles hold?
different genetic information for the same characteristic. e.g brown and blue eyes
What does dominance effect in Alleles?
which allele will have its code read to synthesise a specific protein.
What are most proteins controlled by?
2 alleles, some are dominant over others.
what is the name of traits that can be hidden by others?
regressive traits
What is a dominant allele?
an allele which can be observed un outward appearance of an individual (phenotype)
What are dominant alleles always expressed in?
a cell’s phenotype
How many copies of dominant allele are needed to be inherited to be expressed?
only one copy of the dominant allele needs to be inherited to be expressed
what are dominant alleles represented by?
An uppercase letter.
What are recessive alleles?
traits that are masked by the dominant allele
How are alleles masked/hidden?
if only one copy is present, it is hidden or masked by the dominant allele
How are recessive alleles represented?
by a lowercase letter.
What does homozygous mean?
if alleles for characteristics are the same, said to be homozygous for that trait.
What does homozygous dominant mean?
It means there are two dominant alleles present. e.g BB