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GENETICS VOCABULARY

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WHAT IS HEREDITY? The passing down of genes from parent to offspring

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What are genes? Segment of DNA Determines a trait Trait is shown as a protein

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Are all genes the same? A trait is a physical characteristic of your body: Hair Color Height Widows Peak Hitchhikers Thumb Are all the traits the same?

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Alleles Different forms of a gene Usually represented by a letter. Each person gets two alleles for a gene ( one from mom/ one from dad)

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What do alleles mean? Genotype- Combination of alleles in a person The letters Phenotype What trait the alleles show

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Genotype forms Homozygous- Two of the same allele Heterozygous Two different alleles in a genotype

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Examples- Mendel and his peas Was a monk Worked with peas to look at inheritance Was able to develop rules of inheritance

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Mendels findings 1. Each person has two genes 2. Those genes can be different 3. Only one gene from each parent

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Breeding experiments Determined some relationships between genes DOMINANT ALLELE- The trait will be expressed if this allele is present Usually it is the capital letter RECESSIVE ALLELE- The trait will only show up in phenotype if both alleles are present Usually it is the lower case letter

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Dominant does not always mean allot! Polydactyly- Having extra fingers Due to two dominant alleles Not seen allot in population