Genetics Vocabulary
Punnett Squares
DNA Structure
DNA Base Pairing
Wild Card
100
This term refers to the physical appearance of an individual.
phenotype
100
A Punnett Square helps to predict different ________ and _________ of different crosses of individuals.
Genotypes and phenotypes
100
DNA is the main part of _________ that is the carrier of genetic information in nearly all living organisms.
Chromosomes
100
What is the DNA base pairing rule?
A always binds to T, and G always binds to C.
100
What are any changes in DNA that randomly occur?
mutations
200
How many copies of a dominant allele are required for that trait to be expressed?
1
200
In this Punnett Square, what term is used to refer to the genotypes of both parents?
Heterozygous
200
What part of DNA is a sugar molecule that gives DNA its name?
deoxyribose
200
Because two strands of DNA always follow the base pairing rule, we can say the two strands are what?
complementary
200
If the DNA double helix is like a ladder, which portion would make up the rungs of the ladder?
Nitrogenous bases
300
YY, Yy, or yy would be examples of an organism’s ____________.
genotype
300
In this Punnett Square, What would the phenotypic ratio be?
100% brown eyes, 0% blue eyes
300
What shape is DNA naturally found in?
Double helix
300
DNA base pairs are referred to as which of the three parts of a DNA molecule?
Nitrogenous base
300
On this Punnett Square, what is the genotypic ratio?
BB = 25%, Bb = 50%, bb = 25%
400
What term means having two alleles that are the same?
homozygous
400
In this Punnett Square, what two genotypes have a 0% chance of occuring in the offspring?
BB and bb
400
What two parts of a DNA molecule are always the same and are found making up the sides of the DNA molecule?
Phosphate group and deoxyribose
400
A first strand of DNA has the base pair code GGTCACTACAGT. What is the complementary code of the second strand?
CCAGTGATGTCA
400
Different breeds of dogs being bred for different purposes is an example of what?
Artificial selection
500
What is the difference between a gene and an allele?
A gene is a hereditary unit passed down from parent to offspring. An allele is an alternative form of a gene that is like different “flavors” of a gene.
500
In this Punnett Square, how can a child wind up with blue eyes if both parents have brown eyes?
The child with blue eyes had to inherit two copies of the recessive gene: one from mom and one from dad.
500
How is two meters of DNA able to fit inside the very tiny nucleus of a cell?
Because of its twisted shape it is able to be condensed and compacted down to a very tiny size.
500
If there are only four different types of DNA, how come so many people look and act so different from each other?
Each person has a lot of DNA in their body that they inherited half from mom and half from dad, so there is a lot of variety in what traits are expressed.
500
Why is it so important to know what a person's blood type is?
Knowing a person's blood type could help save that person's life in a life and death situation. It lets you know what type of blood they could safely receive. It also help you determine if a child belongs to a set of parents if there is any question about it.