vocab
what is a gene
A small segment or piece of DNA that contains the instructions to make a specific trait
Where do you get your genes from
They are inherited and passed down from your biological parents.
What is a chromosome
A tightly wrapped package of DNA found inside a cell
What are proteins
The main building block material used to construct your body's physical features
What is the scientific term for the children or babies of parents
They are called offspring
Where do you get your genes from
They are inherited and passed down from your biological parents.
What is an allele
A variant or different version of the same gene (like the allele for blue eyes vs. brown eyes
How many chromosomes do humans normally have in their body cells
Humans have forty-six total chromosomes
What do proteins actually do inside your body
They act as the molecular worker tools that run your cells and do daily life jobs
What is the name of the tool used to predict the traits of offspring
A Punnett Square, which looks like a simple four-box grid
What does DNA stand for and what does it look like
it is a giant master molecule shaped like a twisted ladder.
What happens if a gene gets a typo in its code
It is called a mutation, which is a permanent change in the DNA sequence
How are chromosomes organized in human cells
They are organized into 23 pairs, with one chromosome in each pair coming from each parent
What are the smaller pieces that link together to build a protein
They are built out of smaller chemical puzzle pieces called amino acids
What does recessive mean in genetics
A weak allele that gets hidden unless you inherit two copies of it
What chemical category or family does DNA belong to
it belongs to the nucleic acid family.
How do genes determine what you look like
hey provide the chemical instruction sheets that cells read to build your body parts.
What shape do chromosomes look like under a microscope when a cell prepares to divide
They bunch up into an X-shape
What specific protein is responsible for giving human skin and eyes their color
A pigment protein called melanin.
What does dominant mean in genetics
A strong allele that always shows up and covers up weaker alleles
What is a single step in the line of a family descent called
A generation (like grandparents, parents, and children).
What does it mean when a cell expresses a gene
To express a gene means the cell actually reads the instruction and builds the trait so it shows up in your body
Where are chromosomes safely stored inside a eukaryotic cell
They live inside the nucleus
What is an enzyme
A specialized enzyme protein helper that speeds up chemical reactions, like breaking down your food
what is a trait
like a trait could be like ur eye color your nose size your height stuff like that