Basic Genetics Terms
Name ___________________________
Read pp. 85-87 in your book. Then, match each term below with the statements that describes it.
Use each term twice.
DNA
Nucleotide
Chromosome
Gene
Genome
Mutation
_________________________________ a random error in gene replication that provides the
source of genetic diversity.
_________________________________ a segment of DNA capable of synthesizing a protein;
these are the basic units of heredity.
__________________________________ a complex molecule containing the genetic information
that makes up the chromosomes.
__________________________________ Any of four different simple molecules that are
arranged in sequence to compose DNA.
___________________________________ the complete instructions for making an organism,
consisting of all the genetic material in its chromosomes.
___________________________________ threadlike structure made of DNA molecules that
contain the genes.
_________________________A long coiled molecule found in the nucleus of (almost) every cell.
_________________________A portion of the chromosomes that determines a single trait.
_________________________Any mistake in the nucleotide sequence. If the mistake occurs in a
sperm or egg cell, it can be transmitted to future generations.
_________________________Every human cell (except sex cells) contains approximately 30,000
of these.
_________________________Every human cell (except sex cells) has 46 of these.
_________________________Portion of a DNA molecule that has the instructions for making a
protein.
_________________________The subunit of DNA, this comes in four different forms: A, C, G,
and T. The order in which these are arranged (or the “sequence”) determines the information
contained in the genes.
_________________________The sum total of all of the genetic material in an organism.