This document defines key vocabulary terms related to Mendel's principles of genetics, including probability, independent assortment, gene, allele, segregation, gametes, homozygous, heterozygous, phenotype, and genotype. It then summarizes Mendel's two main principles: that biological characteristics are inherited through units called genes passed from parents to offspring, and his principle of dominance which states that some alleles are dominant and others recessive, determining which form of a trait is shown.

1. Chapter 11.2
Applying Mendel’s
Principles

2. Vocabulary
• Probability – the chance an event will
occur
• Independent assortment – one of
Mendel’s principles that states that
genes for different traits can
segregate independently during the
formation of gametes

3. Vocabulary
• Gene – a factor that is passed from
parent to offspring
• Allele – one of a number of different
forms of a gene

4. Vocabulary
• Segregation – separation of alleles
• Gametes – sex cells (egg cells or
sperm cells)

5. Vocabulary
• Homozygous – having two identical alleles for
a particular gene
• Heterozygous – having two different alleles for
a particular gene
• Phenotype – physical characteristics of an
organism
– Example – widow’s peak or no widow’s peak
• Genotype – genetic makeup of an organism
– Example – RR, Rr, rr

6. Mendel’s Principles
• Biological characteristics are
inherited through units called
genes.
–Genes are passed from parents to
offspring

7. Mendel’s Principles
• Principle of Dominance – some alleles
are dominant and others are recessive
– Organism with at least one dominant allele
for a form of a trait will show that form of a
trait
– Organism with a recessive allele will show
that form only when the dominant allele is
not present