Genetic inheritance
Genetic inheritance
Genetic inheritance (pronunciation: /dʒɪˈnɛtɪk ɪnˈhɛrɪtəns/) refers to the process by which genetic information is passed on from parent to offspring. This is the mechanism that determines how traits, such as eye color and blood type, are transferred from generation to generation.
Etymology
The term "genetic inheritance" is derived from the words "genetic", which comes from the Greek word "genetikos" meaning "genitive" and "inheritance", which originates from the Old French "enheriter" meaning "to make heir".
Related Terms
- Gene: A unit of heredity which is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine some characteristic of the offspring.
- Allele: One of two or more alternative forms of a gene that arise by mutation and are found at the same place on a chromosome.
- Genotype: The genetic constitution of an individual organism.
- Phenotype: The set of observable characteristics of an individual resulting from the interaction of its genotype with the environment.
- Dominant gene: A gene that is expressed phenotypically in heterozygous or homozygous individuals.
- Recessive gene: A gene that can be masked by a dominant gene.
- Homozygous: Having two identical alleles of a particular gene or genes.
- Heterozygous: Having two different alleles of a particular gene or genes.
- Mutation: The changing of the structure of a gene, resulting in a variant form that may be transmitted to subsequent generations.
See also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Genetic inheritance
- Wikipedia's article - Genetic inheritance
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