What is Genetics?

What is Genetics?
Genetics is the scientific study of heredity. Heredity involves the transmission of genetic characteristics from generation to generation.

Definitions
Character:

• observable physical feature

Trait:

• form of a physical feature

Gene:

• genetic material on a chromosome that provides instructions on creating a certain trait
• Allele: different forms of a gene
• Homozygous:
• individuals with two copies of the same allele
• Heterozygous:
• individuals with two different alleles

Genotype

• the genetic makeup of the organism

Phenotype

• the physical appearance of the organism

Mendel’s laws:

• Law of Segregation
• Two copies of a gene will separate when an individual makes gametes
• Law of Independent Assortment
• Alleles of different genes assort independently during the gamete formation

This section will be updated with more details very shortly. 

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