Define inheritance in biology.
The process by which genetic traits are passed from parents to offspring.
What is a gene?
A segment of DNA that codes for a specific trait.
True or false: Phenotype refers to an organism’s genetic makeup.
FALSE
Phenotype is the observable characteristics, while genotype is the genetic makeup.
Fill in the blank: Alleles are different forms of a ______.
Gene
What does homozygous mean?
Having two identical alleles for a particular gene.
What does heterozygous mean?
Having two different alleles for a particular gene.
Define dominant allele.
An allele that expresses its trait even in the presence of a recessive allele.
Define recessive allele.
An allele that only expresses its trait when two copies are present.
True or false: Mendel’s laws apply only to plants.
FALSE
Mendel’s laws apply to all sexually reproducing organisms.
What is Mendel’s Law of Segregation?
The principle that alleles for a trait separate during gamete formation.
What is Mendel’s Law of Independent Assortment?
The principle that genes for different traits segregate independently during gamete formation.
Fill in the blank: A Punnett square is used to predict ______.
The genetic outcomes of a cross.
What is a carrier in genetics?
An individual who has one recessive allele for a trait but does not express it.
Define sex-linked traits.
Traits associated with genes located on sex chromosomes, often X-linked.
True or false: Polygenic inheritance involves multiple genes affecting one trait.
TRUE
Examples include skin color and height.
What is codominance?
A genetic scenario where both alleles in a heterozygote are fully expressed.
What is incomplete dominance?
A genetic scenario where the phenotype is a blend of both alleles.
Fill in the blank: Genotype refers to the ______ of an organism.
Genetic makeup
What is a test cross?
A cross between an individual with an unknown genotype and a homozygous recessive.
Define autosomal traits.
Traits determined by genes located on non-sex chromosomes.
True or false: Environmental factors can influence gene expression.
TRUE
Factors like temperature and nutrition can affect phenotypes.
What is a mutation?
A change in the DNA sequence that can affect genetic traits.
Fill in the blank: Epigenetics studies changes in gene expression without altering the ______.
DNA sequence
What is genetic drift?
A mechanism of evolution that involves random changes in allele frequencies.
