Ch.11 Vocab

Allele- one member of a pair or series of genes that occupy a specific position on a specific chromosome

Segregation- the separation of paired alleles or homologous chromosomes, especially during meiosis, so that the members of each pair appear in different gametes


Gamete- a mature sexual reproductive cell, as a sperm or egg, that unites with another cell to form a new organism

Probability- the relative possibility that an event will occur, as expressed by the ratio of the number of actual occurrences to the total number of possible occurrences


Punnett Square- in genetics, a type of grid used to show the gametes of each parent and their possible offspring; a type of grid that can indicate all the possible outcomes of a genetic cross

Heterozygous- having different alleles at one or more corresponding chromosome

Homozygous- having identical pairs of genes for any given pair of hereditary characteristics

Phenotype- the appearance of an organism resulting from the interaction of the genotype and the environment

Genotype- the genetic makeup of an organism or group of organisms with reference to a single trait, set of traits, or an entire complex of traits.




Homologous- having the same or a similar relation; corresponding, as in relative position or structure



Diploid- an organism or cell having double the basic haploid number of chromosomes


Haploid- an organism or cell having only one complete set of chromosomes, ordinarily half the normal diploid number

Meiosis- part of the process of gamete formation, consisting of chromosome conjugation and two cell divisions, in the course of which the diploid chromosome number becomes reduced to the haploid


Tetrad- a group of four chromatids formed by synapsis at the beginning of meiosis

Crossing-Over- the interchange of corresponding chromatid segments of homologous chromosomes with their linked genes


Gene Map- a graphic representation of the arrangement of genes or DNA sequences on a chromosome

Gene- the basic physical unit of heredity; a linear sequence of nucleotides along a segment of DNA that provides the coded instructions for synthesis of RNA, which, when translated into protein, leads to the expression of hereditary character

Genetics- the science of heredity, dealing with resemblances and differences of related organisms resulting from the interaction of their genes and the environment

True Breeding- an organism having certain biological traits which are passed on to all subsequent generations when bred with another true breeding organism for the same traits

Trait- a genetically determined characteristic or condition. Traits may be physical, such as hair color or leaf shape, or they may be behavioral, such as nesting in birds and burrowing in rodents. Traits typically result from the combined action of several genes, though some traits are expressed by a single gene

Hybrid- the offspring of two animals or plants of different breeds, varieties, species, or genera, esp. as produced through human manipulation for specific genetic characteristics