Genetics Vocabulary

The middle of the ladder (like the steps or rungs) are called base pairs. The four base bairs in DNA is Adenine, Thymine, Guanine, and Cytosine.

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Synonym: genetic code

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Definition: ​(deoxyribonucleic acid) a substance that carries genetic information in the cells of the body

​Learn more about DNA here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwibgNGe4aY&t=16s

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​DNA is shaped like a twisted ladder.

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Synonym: genetic code

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Definition:​ a gene is a piece of DNA which is found inside the center of a cell

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​Watch this to learn more about a gene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MQdXjRPHmQ

​Genes are sections of DNA

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​Synonym: visible characteristics

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Definition: Phenotypes are the observable physical characteristics of a trait that can be observed. The phenotype of the panda bears is white and black fur.​

​​Phenotype

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​Synonym: genes

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Defintion: ​Genotypes are the actual genes one has, such as dominant or recessive.

​​Genotype

​Synonyms: ruling, controlling, covers

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​Definition: In genetics, dominance is the phenomenon of one variant of a gene on a chromosome masking or overriding the effect of a different variant of the same gene on the other copy of the chromosome.

​​Dominant

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​Synonyms: undemonstrative, ​restrained

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Defintion: ​A type of allele that when present on its own will not affect the individual. Two copies of the allele need to be present for the phenotype to be expressed.

​​Recessive