Genetic inheritance

• Genetic inheritance controls the characteristics of all living things
• Genes are inherited from parents, and different combinations of genes make individuals unique
• DNA is a large and complex polymer made up of two strands forming a double helix
• Chromosomes are structures made of DNA found in the nucleus of cells
• Genes are small sections of DNA on chromosomes that code for specific proteins
• Alleles are different versions of the same gene, such as blue or brown eye color alleles
• Genotypes are the collection of alleles that determine characteristics and can be expressed as phenotypes
• Alleles can be dominant or recessive, with dominant alleles always expressed and recessive alleles only expressed with two copies
• Homozygous alleles are identical for the same characteristic, while heterozygous alleles are different for the same characteristic
• Most characteristics are a result of multiple genes interacting, rather than a single gene