Student Name: Date:

Class Period:

Basic Genetic Terms

Use the available reference resources to complete the table below. After finding out the definition of each
word, rewrite the definition using your own words (middle column), and provide an example of how you
may use the word (right column).
Genetic Terms Definition in your own words An example

Allele

Genes

Dominant

Recessive

Homozygous

Heterozygous

Genotype

Phenotype

Mendelian
Inheritance
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GENETICS: Overview
During this unit, you should understand Mendel’s laws of heredity and how mathematical analysis can be
used to determine the outcome of genetic crosses. You must be able to define and understand the terms:
genotype, phenotype, homozygous, heterozygous, dominant, and recessive. Using a Punnett square, you
should be able to work out monohybrid and dihybrid crosses involving complete dominance.

Since Mendel’s time, other modes of inheritance have been discovered which includes codominance,
incomplete dominance, polygenes, multiple alleles, sex-linkage, and nondisjunction. You should be able to
recognize traits that are caused by these modes of inheritance and work out problems that involve
multiple alleles and sex-linkage in humans.

On the molecular level, you should understand the meaning of the genetic code and how it determines
genetic traits. You should know the structure and function of DNA and RNA, and how the DNA code is
transcribed and translated during protein synthesis. You should be familiar with the base pairing rule for
DNA and RNA. You should also be aware of the role of mutations in altering the genetic code.

Biotechnology has great potential in the development of new products and the treatment of diseases. You
should understand the process and uses of genetic engineering. Finally, you should also be aware of
ethical concerns of altering genomes.

Enduring Understandings
♦ All living cells come from other living cells.
♦ Heredity is generally a very regular process that follows predictable processes.

Guiding Questions
♦ How are traits transmitted from parents to offspring and how can traits be predicted?
♦ What are the causes and effects of mutations?
♦ What are the most common genetic disorders in humans and how are they inherited?
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♦ How is genetic engineering useful to humans?