vocabulary
the way something is shaped or constructed
structure
A type of large molecule that performs important functions inside organisms
protein molecule
to receive genes from a parent
inherit
how something works
function
A specific form of a gene that provides instructions for making a particular protein molecule
Allele/gene version
a specific characteristic of an individual organism
trait
the part of a cell where genes are found
nucleus
having gene versions that are the same
homozygous
when a male and female reproductive cell combine to create an offspring
fertilization
any difference in traits between individual organisms
variation
an organism produced as a result of reproduction
offspring
having gene versions that are different
heterozygous
a characteristic that all members of a species have
feature
the process in which two parents pass on their genes to create offspring
sexual reproduction
a protein molecule that does not perform its function, often because it does not connect to other molecules
nonfunctional protein
a specific form of a gene that provides instructions for making a particular protein molecule.
gene version
a type of molecule that genes and chromosomes are made of
DNA
the parts of the cell that build protein molecules based on instructions from genes
ribosomes
a random change to a gene that sometimes results in a new trait
mutation
an instruction for making a protein molecule
gene
a long piece of DNA that contains many genes
chromosome