Multiple Alleles

Three or more forms of a gene

that code for a single trait.

Sex Chromosomes

A pair of chromosomes carrying genes that determine whether a person is male or female.

Sex-Linked Chromosomes

A gene that is carried on the X or Y chromosomes

Carrier

A person who has one recessive allele for a trait, but does not have the trait.

Genetic Disorder

An abnormal condition that a person inherits through genes or chromosomes.

Pedigree

A chart or "Family Tree" that tracks which members of a family have a particular trait.

Karyotype

A picture of all chromosomes in a

cell arranged in pairs.

Selective Breeding

The process of selecting a few organism with desired traits to serve as parents of the next generation.

Inbreeding

A selective breeding method in which two individuals wit identical or similar sets of alleles are crossed.

Hybridization

A selective breeding method in which two genetically different individuals are crossed.

Clone

An organism that is genetically identical to the organism from which it was produced.

Genetic engineering

The transfer of a gene from the DNA of one organism into another organism, in order to produce an organism with desired traits.

Gene Therapy

The inserion of working copies of a gene into the cells of a person with a genetic disorder in an attempt to correct the disorder.

Genome

All of the DNA in one

cell of an organism.