Inheritance Definitions Flashcards
Gene
A length of DNA that codes for a protein
Allele
an alternative form of a gene
Haploid nucleus
a nucleus containing a single set of chromosomes
Diploid nucleus
a nucleus containing two sets of chromosomes
Mitosis
nuclear division giving rise to genetically identical cells
Stem cells
unspecialised cells that divide by mitosis to produce daughter cells that can become specialised for specific functions
Meiosis
a reduction division in which the chromosome number is halved from diploid to haploid resulting in genetically different cells
Inheritance
the transmission of genetic information from generation to generation
Genotype
the genetic make-up of an organism and in terms of the alleles present
Phenotype
the observable features of an organism
Homozygous
having two identical alleles of a particular gene
Heterozygous
having two different alleles of a particular gene
Dominant allele
an allele that is expressed if it is present in the genotype
Recessive allele
an allele that is only expressed when there is no dominant allele of the gene present in the genotype
Codominance
a situation in which both alleles in heterozygous organisms contribute to the phenotype
