Reproduction & Genetics Vocab
Asexual Reproduction – Reproduction where only one parent produces offspring identical to itself (this is
the way most of the cells in our body reproduce)
Binary Fission – A process of asexual reproduction where the parent (bacteria) makes a genetic copy of
itself then divides into two cells
Budding – A type of asexual reproduction where a small cell grows from the body of the parent, then breaks
off and grows into a new offspring
Meiosis – The process of reproducing cells with half the number of chromosomes; sex cells are made during
this process
Haploid – A cell with half the number of chromosomes
Key words: Haploid + Meiosis + Sex Cell + ½ the # of chromosomes
Sexual Reproduction – Two parents come together to produce an offspring with characteristics from both
parents
Fertilization – A process in sexual reproduction where a sperm joins with an egg
Mitosis – A process of cell division that forms two new nuclei, each of which has the same number of
chromosomes
Diploid – Full set of chromosomes produced by mitosis in any organism
Key words: Diploid + Mitosis + Full set of chromosomes
Homologous chromosomes – Chromosomes that have the same sequence of genes and the same structure
Sex Chromosomes – One of the pair of chromosomes that determine the sex of an individual
Pedigree – A diagram that shows the occurrence of a genetic trait in several generations of a family
Selective Breeding – The human practice of breeding animals or plants that have certain desired traits
Genetic Engineering – The process of removing a bit of genetic material from one organism and inserting it
into another organism
Cloning – The process of using the genetic information from a single cell of an organism to produce another
organism with the same genetic information
DNA – A molecule that is present in all living cells and that contains the information that determines the
traits that a living thing inherits and needs to life; (deoxyribonucleic acid)
Nucleotide – In a nucleic-acid chain, a subunit that consists of a sugar, a phosphate, and a nitrogenous base
RNA – A molecule that is present in all living cells and that plays a role in protein production; (ribonucleic
acid)
Ribosome – A cell organelle composed of RNA and protein; the site of protein synthesis
Mutation – A change in the nucleotide-base sequence of a gene or DNA molecule