This document defines key genetics terms including traits, heredity, dominant and recessive traits, genes, alleles, phenotype, genotype, homozygous, heterozygous, DNA, Punnett squares, meiosis, sexual reproduction, asexual reproduction, sex chromosomes, X and Y chromosomes. It provides examples of inherited traits like eye and hair color versus learned traits like language and manners. It also explains genetic concepts such as dominant and recessive alleles, genotypes, phenotypes, meiosis, and Punnett squares.

1. Genetics Terms to Learn
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Genetics
Trait
Heredity
Dominant trait
Recessive Trait
Genes
Alleles
Phenotype
Genotype
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Homozygous
Heterozygous
DNA
Punnett Squares
Meiosis
Sexual reproduction
Asexual reproduction
Sex chromosomes
X chromosome
Y chromosome

2. Genetics Terms to Learn
• Asexual reproduction
– Budding
– Binary Fission
– Cloning

3. Genetics Terms to Learn
• Trait- a characteristic that can be inherited
• Heredity—passing of traits from parents to
offspring
• Dominant trait—the trait that is observed
when one allele (the strong form) is
inherited; ex: dimples, DD or Dd
• Recessive trait—trait that is observed only
when two recessive (weak form) alleles
are inherited; ex: no dimples, dd

4. • Genes—sections of DNA that carry the
hereditary instructions; located on
chromosomes
• Alleles—different forms of a gene
• Phenotype—organism’s inherited
appearance; ex: blue eyes
• Genotype—the inherited combination of
alleles (genes); ex: bb
• Homozygous – having the same genes for
a specific trait (gg, GG)
• Heterozygous – having different genes for
a specific trait (Gg, Bb, Cc)

5. • DNA – hereditary information in the
nucleus and mitochondria’s (maternal
DNA) of our cells. Controls our cells
• Punnett Squares – a way that geneticists
can determine what genes offsprings of
two parents will have.

6. Inherited or not????
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Inherited Traits
Eye color
Hair color
Skin color
Blood type
Color blindness
Handedness
Height
Freckles
Musical talent
Artistic talent
• Learned Traits are not
inherited:
• Examples:
• Speak a language
• Read music
• Painting technique
• Good manners
• Reading ability
• Food preference
• Play an instrument
• Hairstyle

7. Sexual reproduction
•Meiosis—nuclear division that makes sex
cells with one of each pair (half) of the
chromosomes of the parent
•Sex chromosomes—the pair of
chromosomes that determine the sex of the
organism
•X chromosome—female sex chromosome
•Y chromosome—male sex chromosome

8. Genetics Terms Quiz
1. a characteristic that can be inherited
(gene, chromosome, trait)
2. passing of traits from parents to offspring
(meiosis, fertilization, heredity)
3. trait that is observed when one allele (the
strong form) is inherited; ex: dimples, DD or Dd
(recessive, dominant, inherited)
4. trait that is observed only when two recessive
(weak form) alleles are inherited; ex: no dimples,
dd
(Recessive, dominant, clone)

9. 5. sections of DNA that carry the hereditary
instructions; located on chromosomes
(codes, genes, alleles)
6. different forms of a gene
(traits, chromosomes, alleles)
7. organism’s inherited appearance; ex: blue
eyes
(heredity, alleles, genotype,
phenotype)
8. the inherited combination of alleles (genes); ex:
bb
(genotype, phenotype, chromosomes)

10. 5. sections of DNA that carry the hereditary
instructions; located on chromosomes
(codes, genes, alleles)
6. different forms of a gene
(traits, chromosomes, alleles)
7. organism’s inherited appearance; ex: blue
eyes
(heredity, alleles, genotype,
phenotype)
8. the inherited combination of alleles (genes); ex:
bb
(genotype, phenotype, chromosomes)