Reading: Mendelian Genetics

Vocabulary

Allele: Different versions of a gene.
Blending inheritance hypothesis: Hypothesis that stated that offspring were a "mix" of their parents.
Characteristic: A heritable feature, such as flower color.
Dihybrid cross: A cross in which the inheritance of two characteristics are tracked at the same time.
Dominant: The allele that is expressed when two separate alleles are inherited.
F1 generation: The hybrid offspring of the P (parental) generation; first filial generation.
Genetics: The branch of biology that focuses on heredity in organisms.
Genotype: An organism’s genetic makeup.
Heredity: The passing of characteristics from parent to offspring.
Heterozygous: Organisms that have two different alleles for a gene.
Homozygous: An organism that has an identical pair of alleles for a trait.
Hybridization: A cross between two individuals that have different traits.
Law of Independent Assortment: States that the inheritance of one trait will not affect the inheritance of another.
Law of Segregation: States that a pair of alleles is separated, or segregated, during the formation of gametes.
Linked genes: Genes that are close together on a chromosome, and are packaged into the gametes together.
Monohybrid cross: A hybridization in which only one characteristic is examined.
Phenotype: An organism’s physical traits.
Recessive: The allele that is expressed only in the absence of a dominant allele.
Trait: A heritable variant of a characteristic, such as purple or white flower color.