Genetics & Heredity Vocabulary

3. A trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment.
8. Only organisms with two __________ alleles will display a recessive trait.
11. Organisms that combine genetic material from two parents are reproducing through __________.
12. Thick fur in cold climates is an example of a(n) __________ that improves survival.
15. Differences in traits among individuals of the same species.
17. The molecule that stores genetic instructions for all living organisms.
19. All members of one species living in the same area.
21. The conditions or surroundings in which an organism lives.
22. The process of passing traits from parents to offspring.
23. The joining of sperm and egg to form a zygote.
24. Structures in the nucleus that carry many genes.
25. A group of organisms that can reproduce and produce fertile offspring.
27. Different forms of the same gene, like tall or short, are called __________.
28. A visible feature, like purple flowers or green leaves, is part of an organism’s __________.

1. Eye color, fur type, or height is an example of a __________ an organism can have.
2. The process in which organisms with helpful traits survive and reproduce more successfully.
4. Scientists use a __________ to predict the possible allele combinations in offspring.
5. Reproduction that produces genetically identical offspring without two parents is called __________.
6. Instructions in DNA that determine how a trait develops.
7. When both alleles of a gene are expressed equally in an organism.
9. If an organism has one dominant and one recessive allele, it is __________.
10. The combination of alleles an organism inherits from its parents is its __________.
11. The ability of an organism to live and reproduce in its environment is called __________.
13. The chance that a specific trait will appear in offspring.
14. A change in DNA that can result in a new trait.
16. The young produced by one or more parents.
17. A __________ trait will appear in the organism if at least one dominant allele is present.
18. An organism with two identical alleles for a trait is __________.
20. A trait that does not help an organism survive in its environment is a(n) __________.
26. The gradual change of populations over many generations.