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