Unit D Key Terms D54-Investigating Human Traits Characteristic-observable feature of an organism D54-Investigating Human Traits Gene-units of information for inherited traits that are passed from parent to offspring D54-Investigating Human Traits Genetics-study of variation and heredity D54-Investigating Human Traits Heredity-study of how traits are passed from parents to offspring D54-Investigating Human Traits Inherited-something that is passed from parents to children D54-Investigating Human Traits Trait-different versions of a characteristic D55-Plants Have Genes, Too! Offspring-product of reproduction D57-Copycat Asexual reproduction-reproduction in which an organism makes an exact copy of itself; results in two genetically identical offspring from ONE parent D57-Copycat Clone-an offspring produced by asexual reproduction; a genetic copy of another organism D57-Copycat Egg cell-female reproductive cell D57-Copycat Fertilization-the union of sperm and egg D57-Copycat Mutation-random change in a gene D57-Copycat Sexual reproduction-reproduction in which the offspring inherits traits from TWO parents; results in genetically unique offspring D57-Copycat Sperm cell-male reproductive cell D59-Gene Combo Allele-version of a gene D59-Gene Combo Dominant-a trait you observe if at least one allele for that trait is present D59-Gene Combo Probability-the chance of an event occuring D59-Gene Combo Random-occurring without a pattern D59-Gene Combo Recessive-trait that is hidden D61-Gene Squares Carrier-person who is heterozygous for a recessive trait (normally a genetic disease) D61-Gene Squares Homozygous-an organism that has two of the same allele for a characteristic D61-Gene Squares Heterozygous-an organism that has two different alleles for a characteristic D61-Gene Squares Punnett square-a diagram you can use to show how likely each outcome of a breeding experiment is D63-Show Me The Genes! Chromosome-threadlike structure made up of genes D63-Show Me The Genes! Cell division-process in which cells divide to make more cells D63-Show Me The Genes! DNA-deoxyribonucleic acid; molecule that contains the information carried by genes D64-Nature and Nuture Nature vs. nuture-heredity vs. environment; traits someone is born with vs. traits someone acquires as a result of experiences D65-Breeding Critters More Traits Diversity-variety D66-Patterns in Pedigrees Co-dominance-results in both traits being fully present in a heterozygous organism D66-Patterns in Pedigrees Incomplete dominance-results in an intermediate appearance in a heterozygous organism D66-Patterns in Pedigrees Pedigree-family history of traits used for genetic analysis D69-Evidence From DNA DNA fingerprinting-using DNA to identify people D71-Should We? Duties-something you are expected or required to do D71-Should We? Goals-an aim or purpose D71-Should We? Rights-something that is due to a person because of law, tradition, or nature