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Genes & Molecular Machines Vocabulary

Terms in this set (107)

Any behavior or change in an organism that affects its ability to survive and reproduce

Alternative forms of a gene found at the same place on a chromosome.

The part of the stamen that contains pollen.

Programmed cell death that occurs naturally during growth and development.

Artificial Selection

The intentional breeding of organisms, such as animals and plants, to produce offspring with desirable traits.

Asexual Reproduction

A type of reproduction requiring only one parent and that results in offspring identical to the parent.

A type of asexual reproduction that prokaryotes and other single-celled organisms often undergo. In this process, the organism duplicates its genetic material and then divides evenly into two organisms.

Blended Inheritance

A discredited theory of inheritance that claimed genetic material for a trait in an offspring had to be an equal combination of features from both parents.

A type of asexual reproduction in which an outgrowth develops at a particular location on the organism, creating a new organism.

A disease caused by uncontrolled division of abnormal cells, resulting in a growth or tumor.

The smallest organized unit in a living room.

A process by which a parent cell divides.

A layer that surrounds the cytoplasm of a cell and helps to contain cellular material. It also plays a role in regulating what enters and leaves the cell.

The outermost, rigid layer in a plant as well as in some single-celled organisms.

Central Vacuole

A large structure found in plant cells whose function is to store materials and wastes.

A chlorophyll-containing structure found in plant cells and some single-celled organisms. Its functions is to to produce food for the organism through photosynthesis.

A structure composed of DNA coild around proteins. It can only be see in a nucleus during mitosis or meiosis.

An organism that is genetically identical to its single parent.

When both alleles in a heterozygous pair are expressd in the phenotype equally.

Common Ancestry

An idea that multiple species can evolve from a single species.

A common behavioral adaptation in animals where the males attempt to attract a mate.

Cross-Pollination

The transfer of pollen from the anthers of one plant to the stigma of another plant of the same species.

The products of cell division in which the cells are genetically identical to the parent cell.

Deletion (Deleterious Mutation)

A change in an organism's DNA in which one or many base pairs are removed from the strand.

Differentiation

The process by which cells become specialized to perform a particular function.

When a population of organisms in a species becomes genetically isolated from the rest of the species and develops different mutations, causing them to begin evolving into a separate species.

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)

The hereditary material found in many organisms. Chromosomes are composed of this material wrapped around proteins.

To breed or train an animal for life in close association with humans.

A gene that is expressed over its recessive form and determines the phenotype of an organism. For a specific trait, heterozygous dominant and homozygous dominant individuals will have the same phenotype.

When an organism is alive but inactive or reduces its level of activity to survive unfavorable environmental conditions.

The female gamete or reproductive cell.

The stage of an organism that follows fertilization and continues until birth or germination.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)

A structure found in plant and animal cells that packages and moves materials around the cell, produces lipids, and breakds down different substances.

An organism whose cell(s) contains a nucleus; includes all plant, animal, fungus, and protist species.

A theory that explains that modern organisms have arisen from a common ancestor. Changes in the ancestor's DNA that allowed them to better survive and reproduce in different situations or environments caused new species to occur over time (natural selection).

The union of sperm (male) and egg (female).

An organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment.

Reproductive cells; sperm (make) and egg/ovum (female).

One of the many portions of a DNA molecule that contains genetic instructions.

The process whereby a beneficial mutation becomes more common ina population, changing the gene pool.

The transfer of alleles from one population to another; also called gene migration.

The amount of diversity of genes within a population of organisms.

A form of genetic engineering in which missing or damaged genes are replaced with normal genes in order to correct a genetic disorder.

The breeding of two individuals that results in the offspring receiving genetic material from both parents.

Genetic Diversity

The variety of genetic material or characteristics in a species.

Random changes or fluctuations in the frequency of particular characteristics in a gene pool; more common in small populations.

Genetic Engineering

A process that changes the characteristics of an organism by changing its DNA; a type of genetic manipulation.

Genetic Manipulation

The changing of an organism's genetic material.

Genetic Recombination

The process that results in an organism receiving a combination of alleles that are different from those of its parents.

The study of how traits are passed from parents to offspring.

The complete set of genetic material in an organism.

The genetic makeup for a trait.

When a seed begins to grow.

Golgi Body (Golgi Apparatus)

A cellular structure found in both plant and animal cells that packages materials that need to be removed from a cell or moved around the cell.

A condition in which the paired genes for a trait are different; often referred to as hybrid.

A condition in which the paired genes for a trait are the same.

Human Genome Project

An international research project that determined the sequence of human DNA.

Incomplete Dominance

Occurs when one allele for a trait is not completely expressed over the other allele in its pair.

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Adult cells that have been reprogrammed to behave like embryonic stem cells.

Innate Behavior

A type of behavior that is instinctual and does not have to be learned or practiced.

The pre-adult form of many organisms, such as butterflies and moths.

A cellular structure found primarily in animal cells that contains enzymes used to break down large molecules, protect against foreign invaders, and recycle old organelles.

A reproductive provess in which the nucleus divides and four sex cells (gametes) form.

Mitochondrion (pl. Mitochondria)

A cellular structure found in both plant and animal cells that breaks down food to release ATP energy in a process known as cellular respiration.

A process during which the nucleus and cellular contents duplicate and then divide, producing two identical cells.

A species that has been studied in great detail and is used to understand specific phenomena in biology.

mRNA (messenger RNA)

A molecule that aids in protein production by conveying genetic information from the DNA in the nucleus to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm.

Any organism composed of two or more cells.

Any change in a sequence of DNA.

Natural Selection

The process by which organisms that are better able to survive and reproduce pass on their desirable traits to their offspring.

Nitrogenous Base

One of the molecules that is used to create a nucleotide.

A subunit of DNA consisting of a sugar, phosphate, and nitrogenous base.

The "command center" of the cell; regulates cell functions and contains the DNA.

A new organism that results from asexual or sexual reproduction.

A living thing.

A female reproductive cell or gamete.

The physical expression of a trait as a result of its genotype.

A chemical produced and released by an animal that aids in communication, such as attracting a mate.

The female reproductive organ of flowering plants.

When a single gene influences two or more traits.

The ability of a stem cell to become several different cell types.

The male reproductive cell of flowering plants.

Polygenic Trait

A trait that is controlled by two or more genes.

A group of organisms of the same species that interbreed and inhabit the same area.

Population Genetics

The study of genetic differences within populations.

The mathematical chance an event will occur.

Prokaryotic Cell

An organism whose cell does not contain a nucleus; includes all bacteria and archaea species.

A large molecule made of a chain of amino acids that is responsible for many functions within the body, including some physical characteristics, enzymes and antibodies.

A tool used to display the potential genotypes of offpsring from a particular genetic cross.

A gene that is expressed over its recessive form and determines the phenotype of an organism. For a specific trait, heterozygous dominant and homozygous dominant individuals will have the same phenotype.

The process of creating new organisms of the same species.

A cellular structure found in cells that is responsible for creating proteins.

Self-Pollination

The process where pollen from the anther of one flower is placed on the stigma of the same flower or another flower on the same plant.

Sexual Reproduction

A type of reproduction that requires two parents and results in an offspring with traits from both parents.

A group of interbreeding organisms that share similar characteristics.

The male gamete or reproductive cell.

The male reproductive organ of flowering plants.

A cell of a multicellular organism that is able to develop into any of the many types of cells.

The top of the pistil where pollen grains are deposited.

An inherited characteristic of an organism.

Transcribe (Transcription)

The process in which DNA is copied into RNA.

Translate (Translation)

The process in which mRNA is decoded by a ribosome to produce an amino acid chain.

An organism composed of only one cell.

A cellular structure that stores materials and waste.

A different version of something such as alleles or traits.

Vegetative Propogation

A form of asexual reproduction where a new plant grows from a part of the parent plant.

The first new cell of an offspring, created when the sperm and egg combine.

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