Unit #1: Genetic Processes:
Traits: A specific characteristic of a feature exhibited by an organism.
True Breeding: organisms that exhibit the same traits, generation after generation.
Cross: the fertilization of a female gamete of a specific genetic origin with a male gamete of
a specific genetic origin.
P Generation: in breeding the organisms initially crossed and are typically true breeding.
F1 Generation: the offspring of a cross of the P Generation.
Monohybrid Cross: a cross of two individuals that differ by one trait.
F2 Generation: the offspring of a cross between the F1 Generation.
Dominant: the form of a trait that always appears when an individual has an allele for it.
Recessive: the form of a trait that only appears when an individual has two alleles for it.
Genotype: the combination of alleles for any given trait, or an organism's entire genetic
makeup.
Phenotype: the physical and physiological traits of an organism.
Homozygous: an organism that has two identical alleles of a gene.
Heterozygous: an organism that has two different alleles for a gene.
Punnett Square: a grid used to illustrate all possible genotypes and phenotype of offspring
from genetic crosses.
Test Cross: a cross between a parent and unknown genotype and a homozygous recessive
parent.
Dihybrid Cross: a cross of two individuals that differ in two traits due to two different traits.
Pedigree: a flowchart that uses symbols to show the inheritance in patterns of traits in a
family over generations.
Autosomal Inheritance: the inheritance of traits determined by genes on the autosomal
chromosomes.
Autosomal Dominant: the inheritance of a dominant phenotype whose gene is on an
autosomal chromosome.
Autosomal Recessive: the inheritance of a recessive phenotype whose gene is on an
autosomal chromosome.
Incomplete Dominance: a condition in which neither allele for a gene completely conceals
the presence of the other. It results in intermediate expression of a trait.
Codominance: the condition in which both alleles for a trait are equally expressed in a
heterozygote; both alleles are dominant.
Linked Genes: genes that are on the same chromosome and are typically linked to each
other.
Sex-linked Trait: a trait controlled by genes on the X or Y chromosome.
, Unit #2: Evolution:
Adaptations:
Structural Adaptation: physical features of an organism that helps it survive. Ex. mimicry,
camouflage.
Behavioural Adaptation: things that an organism does to survive. E. migration, nocturnal
Physiological Adaptation: a systematic response to specific external stimuli. Ex.
hibernation, production of venom.
Process of Natural Selection:
Natural Selection: the process by which characteristics of a population change over many
generations as organisms with inherited traits survive and pass on those traits to offspring.
- Environmental conditions determine if a variation in an individual has a positive
effect on an individual's ability to survive. If it does, individuals with this helpful
variation will be likely to pass down this variation to its offspring, increasing the
frequency of the variation.
- Variations are typically caused by mutations.
- If a mutation occurs in a somatic cell, it will die when the individual dies. If the
mutation affects the DNA it may affect future generations.
Unit #3: Systems
Digestive System:
The Mouth: Where mechanical digestion (teeth), and chemical digestion (enzymes) take
place. The tongue mixes with the chewed food and saliva, forming bolus.
Salivary Glands: Sends saliva in the mouth. Saliva contains salivary amylase which breaks
down carbohydrates.
Esophagus: The muscular tube in which the food passes from the mouth to the stomach by
peristalsis.
Stomach: Where digested food is stored, and further broken down into macromolecules.
Mechanical digestion through peristalsis, and chemical digestion through enzymes such as
pepsin and hydrochloric acid.
Small Intestine: Where macromolecules are completely broken down. Consists of villi and
microvilli that aid in the absorption of nutrients.
---> Duodenum: Where bile and pancreatic fluid is secreted to digest lipids, carbohydrates,
and proteins.
---> Jejunum: Continued digestion of macromolecules. Most nutrient absorption happens
here.
---> Illecum: Absorbs remaining nutrients and pushes excess material into the large
intestine.
Large Intestine: Where absorption of water, salts and vitamins in the blood.
---> Cecum: Where the large intestine and small intestine intersect
---> Appendix: An (unnecessary) extension of the cecum.
Traits: A specific characteristic of a feature exhibited by an organism.
True Breeding: organisms that exhibit the same traits, generation after generation.
Cross: the fertilization of a female gamete of a specific genetic origin with a male gamete of
a specific genetic origin.
P Generation: in breeding the organisms initially crossed and are typically true breeding.
F1 Generation: the offspring of a cross of the P Generation.
Monohybrid Cross: a cross of two individuals that differ by one trait.
F2 Generation: the offspring of a cross between the F1 Generation.
Dominant: the form of a trait that always appears when an individual has an allele for it.
Recessive: the form of a trait that only appears when an individual has two alleles for it.
Genotype: the combination of alleles for any given trait, or an organism's entire genetic
makeup.
Phenotype: the physical and physiological traits of an organism.
Homozygous: an organism that has two identical alleles of a gene.
Heterozygous: an organism that has two different alleles for a gene.
Punnett Square: a grid used to illustrate all possible genotypes and phenotype of offspring
from genetic crosses.
Test Cross: a cross between a parent and unknown genotype and a homozygous recessive
parent.
Dihybrid Cross: a cross of two individuals that differ in two traits due to two different traits.
Pedigree: a flowchart that uses symbols to show the inheritance in patterns of traits in a
family over generations.
Autosomal Inheritance: the inheritance of traits determined by genes on the autosomal
chromosomes.
Autosomal Dominant: the inheritance of a dominant phenotype whose gene is on an
autosomal chromosome.
Autosomal Recessive: the inheritance of a recessive phenotype whose gene is on an
autosomal chromosome.
Incomplete Dominance: a condition in which neither allele for a gene completely conceals
the presence of the other. It results in intermediate expression of a trait.
Codominance: the condition in which both alleles for a trait are equally expressed in a
heterozygote; both alleles are dominant.
Linked Genes: genes that are on the same chromosome and are typically linked to each
other.
Sex-linked Trait: a trait controlled by genes on the X or Y chromosome.
, Unit #2: Evolution:
Adaptations:
Structural Adaptation: physical features of an organism that helps it survive. Ex. mimicry,
camouflage.
Behavioural Adaptation: things that an organism does to survive. E. migration, nocturnal
Physiological Adaptation: a systematic response to specific external stimuli. Ex.
hibernation, production of venom.
Process of Natural Selection:
Natural Selection: the process by which characteristics of a population change over many
generations as organisms with inherited traits survive and pass on those traits to offspring.
- Environmental conditions determine if a variation in an individual has a positive
effect on an individual's ability to survive. If it does, individuals with this helpful
variation will be likely to pass down this variation to its offspring, increasing the
frequency of the variation.
- Variations are typically caused by mutations.
- If a mutation occurs in a somatic cell, it will die when the individual dies. If the
mutation affects the DNA it may affect future generations.
Unit #3: Systems
Digestive System:
The Mouth: Where mechanical digestion (teeth), and chemical digestion (enzymes) take
place. The tongue mixes with the chewed food and saliva, forming bolus.
Salivary Glands: Sends saliva in the mouth. Saliva contains salivary amylase which breaks
down carbohydrates.
Esophagus: The muscular tube in which the food passes from the mouth to the stomach by
peristalsis.
Stomach: Where digested food is stored, and further broken down into macromolecules.
Mechanical digestion through peristalsis, and chemical digestion through enzymes such as
pepsin and hydrochloric acid.
Small Intestine: Where macromolecules are completely broken down. Consists of villi and
microvilli that aid in the absorption of nutrients.
---> Duodenum: Where bile and pancreatic fluid is secreted to digest lipids, carbohydrates,
and proteins.
---> Jejunum: Continued digestion of macromolecules. Most nutrient absorption happens
here.
---> Illecum: Absorbs remaining nutrients and pushes excess material into the large
intestine.
Large Intestine: Where absorption of water, salts and vitamins in the blood.
---> Cecum: Where the large intestine and small intestine intersect
---> Appendix: An (unnecessary) extension of the cecum.
