Miss Taznin

• Alleles are different forms of the same gene, sometimes referred to as variants.
• Asexual reproduction involves only one individual and the offspring is identical to the parent, with no fusion of gametes or mixing of genetic information.
• Bases, represented by the letters A, T, C, and G, are nitrogenous compounds that make up part of the structure of DNA and RNA.
• Carriers are individuals who are heterozygous for a recessive allele linked to a genetic disorder, having one healthy allele so are not affected themselves but can pass on the affected allele to their offspring.
• Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disorder that affects the lungs, digestive, and reproductive system and is inherited through a recessive allele.
• A dominant allele means the phenotype will be apparent in the offspring even if only one of the alleles is inherited.
• Genetic engineering is the process by which scientists can manipulate and change the genotype of an organism.
• Genotype is the genetic makeup of an individual for a particular characteristic, for example hair or eye colour.
• A heterozygote is an individual with different alleles for a characteristic.
• A homozygote is an individual with two identical alleles for a characteristic.
• Meiosis is a two stage process of cell division that reduces the chromosome number of daughter cells, involved in making gametes for sexual reproduction.
• A mutation is a change in the genetic material of an organism.
• Natural selection is the process by which evolution takes place, where organisms produce more offspring than the environment can support, only those that are most suited to their environment will survive to breed and pass on their useful characteristics to their offspring.
• A nucleotide is a molecule made up of a sugar, a phosphate group, and one of four different bases, key units in the structure of DNA and RNA.
• Phenotype is the physical appearance / biochemistry of an individual for a particular characteristic.
• Polydactyly is a dominant inherited disorder that results in babies born with extra fingers and/or toes.
• A Punnett square diagram is a way of modelling a genetic cross and predicting the outcome using probability.
• Recessive is a phenotype that will only show up in the offspring if both of the alleles coding for that characteristic are inherited.
• Sex chromosomes carry the information that determines the sex of an individual.
• Sexual reproduction involves the joining (fusion) of male and female gametes producing genetic variation in the offspring.