Heredity and Genetics
The molecule that carries genetic information in chromosomes.
DNA
Reproduction that involves one parent and produces genetically identical offspring.
asexual reproduction
A random change in DNA that can be helpful, harmful, or neutral.
mutation
Term for having two identical alleles for a trait.
homozygous
Word: the passing of traits from parents to offspring
heredity
The units on chromosomes that code for proteins and determine traits.
gene
Type of reproduction that requires two parents and increases genetic variation.
sexual reproduction
Marfan syndrome affects the body's connective tissue; one important protein involved is called _____.
Fibrillin-1
Term for having two different alleles for a trait.
heterozygous
word: An animal that moves pollen to the female structure of a plant containing the ovary.
Pollinator
The two different forms of a gene found at the same location on paired chromosomes.
allele(s)
These cells (male and female) each contribute half the chromosomes at fertilization.
egg and sperm (Gametes)
A major organ system doctors monitor closely in Marfan patients because of risk of aortic problems (name the system or organ).
cardiovascular/heart
The allele that shows up in the organism's appearance when present (dominant or recessive?)
Dominant
Word: the cell structures that contain DNA and genes
chromosomes
The physical appearance or observable traits of an organism (what we can see)
phenotype
an individual's production of offspring per breeding event or lifetime which can be increased by certain behaviors or structures
successful reproduction
Who is the best middle school female science teacher at our school?
Ms. Lee
The tool used to predict the probability of offspring genotypes from two parents.
Punnett Square
Word: the process when a sperm and egg join to form a new cell.
fertilization
The name for the combination of alleles an organism has.
genotype
Why sexual reproduction can lead to greater genetic diversity than asexual reproduction (short explanation).
Because offspring inherit half their genes from each parent, producing new allele combinations that increase variation.
Give one example of how environment can cause differences between identical twins even though they share the same genes.
nutrition, illness, injuries
If two heterozygous parents (Aa × Aa) mate for a simple dominant/recessive trait, what is the percent chance the offspring will have the genotype aa?
25%
Word: the term for an inherited feature such as eye color or height.
trait