heredity
the process by which traits are passed from parents to offspring
pure
offspring is same breed, certain traits will appear over and over again
hybrid
offspring that carry unlike traits from each parent
generation
all offspring produced by a set of parents; a type of timeline people are called
trait
a characteristic passed from parent to child that makes one organism similar or different from one another
fertilization
when a sperm and egg cell join
Gregor Mendel
the scientist who studied genetics
genes and traits
the reason why we can tell different people apart
the difference between a pure and hybrid plant
pure plants are those that have traits that appear over and over again in their offspring; hybrid plants carry unlike traits from each parent
gene
a small unit that carries information that determines the traits of an organism
meiosis
cell division that cuts the number of chromosomes in half, divides 2 times
nucleus
where you find chromosomes in a cell
mitosis
one cell division, two identical nuclei are produced
dominant trait
a trait that results from the gene that is more "powerful" than the other
recessive trait
the trait that results from the gene with the least influence
Punnett Square
a special chart that shows the possible combinations of genes for a certain trait
sex chromosomes
specific genes that determine whether an offspring will be male or female
male
X and Y chromosomes
female
X and X chromosomes
23
the number of chromosomes found in an egg cell or sperm cell after meiosis