Adaptation and inheritance

• Variation is the differences in the characteristics of individuals in a population.
• Characteristics are features of an organism
• Environmental characteristics are features determined by how we live.
• Genetic characteristics are features that are inherited from parents
• A living thing is called an organism
• The environment affects all aspects of life, including growth, development, reproduction and survival.
• Biotic factors include producers, consumers and decomposers.
• Dominant alleles are expressed even if the recessive allele is present.
• Recessive alleles are expressed when the dominant allele is absent.
• The nucleus is found inside the cell
• Chromosomes contain genes which control characteristics
• DNA contains genetic information
• Genes determine inherited traits
• Chromosomes are strings of DNA molecules that carry genes.
• Alleles are different versions of a gene, with one being dominant over the other.
• DNA stands for Deoxyribonucleic Acid and is the molecule that carries genetic information
• 23rd chromosome determines sex
• Males have X and Y chromosomes while females have XX chromosomes
• Gene


  A segment of DNA that contains the instructions for making a specific protein or performing a specific function. Genes are the basic units of heredity and are passed down from parents to offspring.
• Allele


  A variant of a gene. Each gene in an organism can have multiple alleles, which can result in different traits being expressed. Alleles can be dominant or recessive, with dominant alleles being expressed when present and recessive alleles only being expressed when there are no dominant alleles present.
• Protein


  A large molecule made up of one or more long chains of amino acids. Proteins are essential for the structure, function, and regulation of the body's cells, tissues, and organs. Genes contain the instructions for making specific proteins, which are then produced by the body's cells.
• Reproduction


  The process by which organisms produce offspring that are similar to themselves. This can occur through sexual or asexual means, and it's a fundamental feature of all living things.
• Heredity


  The transmission of genetic information from parents to offspring. This information is contained in genes, which are segments of DNA that contain the instructions for making specific proteins or performing specific functions.