Science Chapter 5
Study Guide
Genetics
Vocabulary:
Heredity
dominant allele
recessive allele
sexual reproduction
mutation
genetics
hybrid
genotype
diploid
trait
fertilization
probability
homozygous
meiosis
alleles
purebred
punnett square
heterozygous
messenger RNA
gene
phenotype
codominance
transfer RNA
Concepts:
Big Idea: How are traits passed from parents to offspring?
Know where DNA is located in the cell
Know different types of mutations
Process and stages of meiosis; know what happens at each stage
Process of protein synthesis
Know what Gregor Mendel’s experiment was and what results he obtained
Why was Gregor Mendel’s work important? It created the foundation for what understanding?
Know how organism’s traits are determined by its alleles
Know how dominant and recessive genes are written
Know how probability helps to explain the results of genetic outcomes
Know what the chromosome theory of inheritance is
Know the role chromosomes play in inheritance
Know the relationship between chromosomes and genes
Know how genetic code is formed
Know how cells make proteins
Know where protein synthesis takes place
Know the process of protein synthesis and what occurs during this process
Know the function of transfer RNA and messenger RNA
Know how RNA is different from DNA
Know what a mutation causes
Know what phenotype codominant traits show
Know how to read information off of a punnett square
What determines the genetic code?
Know the effects of harmful mutations and helpful mutations
California State Standards: Genetics
2. A typical cell of any organism contains genetic instructions that specify its traits. Those traits may be
modified by environmental influences. As a basis for understanding this concept:
a. Students know the differences between the life cycles and reproduction methods of sexual and
asexual organisms.
b. Students know sexual reproduction produces offspring that inherit half their genes from each
parent.
c.
Students know an inherited trait can be determined by one or more genes.
d. Students know plant and animal cells contain many thousands of different genes and typically
have two copies of every gene. The two copies (or alleles) of the gene may or may not be
identical, and one may be dominant in determining the phenotype while the other is recessive.
e. Students know DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the genetic material of living organisms and is
located in the chromosomes of each cell.