BASIC GENETICS

Allele a specific form of a gene which occupies the same genes locus
as the other alleles on the chromosome
Genome the entire genetic information of an organism
Base substitution when one base is changed for another, might
change the amino acid
Haemoglobin a globular protein associated with the transport of
oxygen in blood
Chromosome the threadlike structure of nucleic acids and proteins
found in the nucleus carrying genetic information
Mutation a change in the base sequence of an allele
Codominant alleles pairs of alleles that both affect the phenotype
when present in a heterozygote
Natural selection Better adapted individuals are the ones that are
more likely to survive and produce offspring while less adapted ones are
more likely to die. Natural selection results in the better adapted
individuals to pass on their characteristics to more offspring as the
lesser adapted ones are more likely to die before they reproduce.
Gene a heritable factor that controls a specific characteristic

THEORETICAL GENETICS
ABO blood group A and B are codominant but A and B are dominant
to O
Gamete a haploid sex cell
P generation the parent generation (the ones that are crossed)
Genotype the alleles of an organism
Phenotype the physical characteristics of an organism
Pedigree the gene tree of a family
Back cross crossing a hybrid with another which is genetically
identical to its parent
Heterozygous having 2 different alleles of a gene
Homozygous having 2 identical alleles of a gene

Carrier an individual that has only 1 copy recessive allele of a gene so

it does not have an effect on their genotype
Recessive an allele that only has an effect on a phenotype when in a
homozygous state
Dominant an allele that has an effect on a phenotype when in
homozygous or heterozygous state
Locus a specific location of a gene on a chromosome
Sex chromosome pair of chromosomes that determine ones gender
Monohybrid crossing of individuals with different alleles at one locus
of interest
Dihybrid crossing of individuals with different alleles at two locus of
interest
Sex linkage genes that are located on a sex chromosome making one
gender more prone to it than the other
Test Cross the crossing of an individual with a known homozygous
recessive genotype (aa) with an individual with an unknown but
dominant genotype (AA or Aa)

GENETIC ENGINAEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

CLONE are a group of genetically identical organisms or a group of
cells derived from a single parent cell.
GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISM (GMO) organisms that have
been genetically modified
PLASMID accessory DNA of prokaryotes
DNA LIGASE an enzyme that facilitates the joining of DNA strands
together by catalyzing the formation of a phosphodiester bond.
DNA PROFILE identifying individuals by their genetic DNA
GENE SPLICING cutting out the introns and keeping the exons of
mRNA to make mature mRNA
POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION (PCR) amplifying small quantities
of DNA to generate millions of copies for DNA profiling
HOST CELL the cell in which a virus reproduces

RECOMBINANT PLASMIDS plasmids that contain genetic material

that is recombined from different genetic pieces
GEL ELECTROPHORESIS the technique of separating
macromolecules, (proteins, DNA and RNA) by their fragments based on
their charge and size
THERAPEUTIC CLONING cloning of organs and tissues not of an
entire organism, somatic cell nuclear transfer