AP Notes, Outlines, Study Guides, Vocabulary, Practice Exams and more!

AP Biology Genetic Vocabulary Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
6214393819crossing overProcess in which homologous chromosomes exchange portions of their chromatids during meiosis.0
6214393820law of independent assortmentOne of Mendel's principles that states that genes for different traits can segregate independently during the formation of gametes1
6214393821law of segregation(genetics) the separation of paired alleles during meiosis so that members of each pair of alleles appear in different gametes2
6214393822random fertilizationsource of genetic variation caused by the unlimited number of possible sperm & egg combinations3
6214393823heterozygousAn organism that has two different alleles for a trait4
6214393824monohybrid crossA cross between individuals that involves one pair of contrasting traits5
6214393825dihybrid crossA cross between two individuals, concentrating on two definable traits6
6214393826alleleAn alternative form of a gene.7
6214393827geneA discrete unit of hereditary information consisting of a specific nucleotide sequence in DNA (or RNA, in some viruses). Codes for RNA, polypeptides, and proteins8
6214393828synapsisPairing of homologous chromosomes. homologous chromosomes loosely pair up -align gene by gene -get together with homologous pair9
6214393829dominant alleleAn allele that will determine phenotype if just one is present in the genotype10
6214393830recessive alleleAn allele that is masked when a dominant allele is present11
6214393831phenotypeAn organism's physical appearance, or visible traits.12
6214393832genotypeAn organism's genetic makeup (alleles for a particular gene)13
6214393833test crossthe crossing of an individual of unknown genotype with a homozygous recessive individual to determine the unknown genotype14
6214393834rule of multiplicationA statistical rule stating that the probability of two independent events occurring together is the product of their individual probabilities.15
6214393835rule of additionA statistical rule stating that the probability of either of two independent (and mutually exclusive) events occurring is the sum of their individual probabilities minus the probability of them both occurring together.16
6214393836complete dominanceA relationship in which one allele is completely dominant over another17
6214393837incomplete dominanceA type of inheritance in which two contrasting alleles contribute to the individual a trait not exactly like either parent; blending inheritance.18
6214393838codominanceBoth alleles are equally expressed19
6214393839multiple allelesthree or more forms of a gene that code for a single trait (but each individual only has 2)20
6214393840pedigreeA diagram that shows the occurrence of a genetic trait in several generations of a family21
6214393843Sickle cellA human genetic disease of red blood cells caused by the substitution of a single amino acid in the hemoglobin protein; creating sickle shaped red blood cells that collect in vessels causing pain and reduced gas exchange22
6214393844lethal dominant allelehaving a single dominant allele results in death23
6214393846sex-linked genesa gene that is carried on the X or Y chromosome24
6214393847X chromosomeThe sex chromosome found in both men and women. Females have two X chromosomes; males have one. An X chromosome from each parent produces a female child.25
6214393848Y chromosomeThe sex chromosome found only in males. When paired with an X chromosome from the mother, it produces a male child26
6214393850HemophiliaA sex-linked hereditary disease where blood does not coagulate to stop bleeding27
6214393851X-inactivationa process by which one of the two copies of the X chromosome present in female mammals is randomly inactivated creating a Barr body28
6214393852Barr BodyThe inactivated X chromosome29
6214393853Genetic recombinationthe regrouping of genes in an offspring that results in a genetic makeup that is different from that of the parents30
6214393854linkage mapA genetic map based on the frequencies of recombination between markers during crossing over of homologous chromosomes.31
6214393855map unitin chromosome mapping, an increment of 1 percent in the frequency of crossing-over32
6214393856nondisjuctionError in meiosis in which homologous chromosomes fail to separate.33
6214393857aneuploidyA chromosomal aberration in which one or more chromosomes are present in extra copies or are deficient in number.34
6214393858polyploidyCondition in which an organism has extra full sets of chromosomes35
6214393859trisomy3 copies of a chromosome36
6214393860monsomyChromosomal abnormality consisting of the absence of one chromosome from the normal diploid number37
6214393861mutationan event that changes the nucleotide sequence in a gene, creating a novel sequence which may have no function or a new function38
6214393862point mutationGene mutation involving changes in one or a few nucleotides39
6214393863deletion(1) A deficiency in a chromosome resulting from the loss of a fragment through breakage. (2) A mutational loss of one or more nucleotide pairs from a gene.40
6214393864duplicationAn aberration in chromosome structure due to fusion with a fragment from a homologous chromosome, such that a portion of a chromosome is duplicated.41
6214393865inversion(genetics) a kind of mutation in which the order of the genes in a section of a chromosome is reversed42
6214393866translocationChange to a chromosome in which a fragment of one chromosome attaches to a nonhomologous chromosome43
6214393868Down SyndromeA condition of retardation and associated physical disorders caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21.44
6214393871true breedingIf an organism has a certain characteristic that is always passed on to its offspring, we say that this organism bred true with respect to that characteristic.45
6214393872linked genesGenes located close enough together on a chromosome that they tend to be inherited together.46
6214393873carrierA person whose genotype includes a gene that is not expressed in the phenotype.47
6214393874G1First stage of interphase in which cell grows and performs its normal functions. Cell is diploid.48
6214393875G0Cell is performing its normal functions, but has left the cell cycle and is not dividing. Does not pass the G1 checkpoint49
6214393876S phaseThe synthesis phase of the cell cycle; the portion of interphase during which DNA is replicated.50
6214393877G2Last stage of interphase in which cell grows and performs its normal functions. Cell is diploid.51
6214393878InterphaseCell grows, performs its normal functions, and prepares for division; consists of G1, S, and G2 phases52
6214393883cytokinesisAt the end of telophase, actin fibers form an equator around the cell and contract, separating the cytoplasm into two daughter cells.53
6214393884centrioleA paired cluster of microtubules near the nucleus in animal cells. This organelle organizes spindle fibers during mitosis.54
6214393885centromereRegion of a chromosome where the two sister chromatids attach to one another. Contains the kinetochore.55
6214393886kinetochoreA specialized region on the centromere that links each sister chromatid to the mitotic spindle.56
6214393887spindle fibersMade of microtubules that connect centrioles to kinetochores of chromosomes and that separate sister (mitosis) or homologous (meiosis) chromosomes during cell division57
6214393888chromosomeA threadlike, gene-carrying structure found in the nucleus. Each chromosome consists of one very long DNA molecule and associated proteins.58
6214393889chromatidOne of two identical "sister" parts of a duplicated chromosome.59
6214393890haploidA cell with only one copy of each chromosome.gamete -contains a single set of chromosomes -n60
6214393891diploidA cell with two copies of each chromosome.has two sets of chromosomes -human # is 46 -2n61
6214393892karyotypeMicrograph of the complete diploid set of chromosomes grouped together in pairs, arranged in order of decreasing size62
6214393893cancerDisorder in which some of the body's cells lose the ability to control growth; A disease in which the body cells grow & divide uncontrollably, damaging the parts of the body around them.63
6214393894metastisisspread of cancer cells64
6214393895genomeconsists of all the DNA in a cell -holds specific genetic traits65
6214393896somatic cellshave two sets of chromosomes -go through mitosis -nonreproductive body cells66
6214393897gameteshave half as many chromosomes as somatic cells -go through meiosis -reproductive cells67
6214393899cleavage furrowformed in eukaryotic cells during late telophase and cytokinesis68
6214393900cell plateforms in plant cells during cytokinesis69
6214393901binary fissionprokaryotic method of reproduction and cell division -chromosome replicates and the two daughter chromosomes actively more apart70
6214393903checkpointswhere the cell cycle stops until a go ahead signal is received -G1 is the most important for many cells71
6214393904growth factorsproteins released by certain cells that stimulate other cells to divide72
6214393905density dependent inhibitioncrowded cells stop dividing73
6214393906tumorsmasses of abnormal cells within otherwise normal tissue -formed by cancer cells74
6214393907benign tumor-lump of abnormal cells remaining only at the original site of the cancer75
6214393908malignant tumorinvade surrounding tissue76
621439391046What is the chromosome number for humans?77
6214393911homologous chromosomes2 chromosomes in each pair -same length and shape -carry genes controlling the same inherited characters78
6214393912fertilizationthe union of gametes (sperm and egg)79
6214393913zygotefertilized egg -one set of chromosomes from each parent -diploid cell produces somatic cells by mitosis80
6214393915homozygousAn organism that has identical alleles for a trait81
6214393916Geneticsstudy of how characteristics are passed from parent to offspring82
6214393917Gregor MendelThe "father of genetics"83
6214393918hereditythe passing of characteristics from parents to offspring84
6214393919traita genetically determined characteristic85
6214393920molecular geneticstype of genetics that studies the genes & chromosomes of an organism86
6214393921hybridanother name for a heterozygous genotype87
6214393922probabiltythe chance of some event happening88
6214393923generationa span of time between the birth of parents & the birth of their offspring89
6214393924P (parent) generationthe generation of true-breeding plants90
6214393925F1 generationoffspring of a cross between the P generation91
6214393926F2 generationoffspring of a cross between the F1 generation92
6214393927cellbasic unit of life93
6214393928cell cyclean ordered sequence of events that includes when a eukaryotic cell is first formed to until it divides into two cells94
6214393929mitosisthe process by which the nucleus of a cell divides into two nuclei95
6214393930meiosisthe production of gamete cells96
6214393931sister chromatidthe two chromosomes that make up a matched pair in a diploid cell97
6214393932tetrada paired set of homologous chromosomes, each composed of two sister chromatids98
6214393933punnett squarea tool used to solve probability problems99
6214393934sex chromosomea chromosome that determines whether on individual is a male or female100
6214393935autosomea chromosome not directly involved in determining the sex of an organism101
6214393936sex influenced traita trait expressed in one sex but not the other102
6214393937chromatinthe material of which the chromosomes of organisms other than bacteria (i.e., eukaryotes) are composed. It consists of protein, RNA, and DNA.103
6214393938asexualnot involving the fusion of gametes.104
6214393939sexualthe fusion of gametes105
6214393940chiasmataa point at which paired chromosomes remain in contact during the first metaphase of meiosis, and at which crossing over and exchange of genetic material occur between the strands.106
6214393941centrosomean organelle near the nucleus of a cell that contains the centrioles (in animal cells) and from which the spindle fibers develop in cell division.107
6214393942cyclinsproteins that control the progression of cells through the cell cycle by activating cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) enzymes.108
6214393944variationa change or difference in condition, amount, or level, typically with certain limits.109

Need Help?

We hope your visit has been a productive one. If you're having any problems, or would like to give some feedback, we'd love to hear from you.

For general help, questions, and suggestions, try our dedicated support forums.

If you need to contact the Course-Notes.Org web experience team, please use our contact form.

Need Notes?

While we strive to provide the most comprehensive notes for as many high school textbooks as possible, there are certainly going to be some that we miss. Drop us a note and let us know which textbooks you need. Be sure to include which edition of the textbook you are using! If we see enough demand, we'll do whatever we can to get those notes up on the site for you!