Fundamental ConceptsVocab

• Genome 


  An organism complete set of genetic information
• Genetic Information


  encoded by molecular structure of nucleic acids ( DNA copied into RNA)
• Eukaryotic Cells 


  DNA organized as linear chromosomes in the nucleus (circular molecules in the mitochondria and chloroplast)
• Prokaryotic Cells


  DNA organized as a circular molecules in the cytoplasm
• Gene


  Physical unit of heredity
• Allele


  Alternate forms of a specific gene
• Central Dogma 


  Theory that genetic information flows in one direction, from DNA to RNA to protein
• Diploid


  Two homologous (similar) chromosome sets
• Locus 


  Physical Location
• Genotype 


  Specific gene versions (alleles) of the organism

  Ex: X/X ; X/x ; x/x
• Phenotype


  Physical expression of the trait