LEARNING WORKBOOK 2026 INHERITANCE
PATTERNS AND DNA FUNCTION
◉ Allele. Answer: One of two or more versions of a gene that are
found at the same place on a chromosome.
◉ Homologous Chromosomes. Answer: Chromosome pairs, one
from each parent, that are similar in shape, size, and genetic content.
◉ Gregor Mendel. Answer: The father of modern genetics, known for
his work on the inheritance of traits in pea plants.
◉ Purebred. Answer: An organism that is the offspring of many
generations that have the same trait.
◉ Cross. Answer: The mating of two organisms to produce offspring.
◉ Homozygous. Answer: Having two identical alleles for a particular
gene.
◉ Heterozygous. Answer: Having two different alleles for a
particular gene.
, ◉ Dominant. Answer: An allele that is expressed in the phenotype
even when only one copy is present.
◉ Recessive. Answer: An allele that is only expressed in the
phenotype when two copies are present.
◉ Genotype. Answer: The genetic constitution of an individual, often
in terms of the alleles present.
◉ Phenotype. Answer: The observable physical or biochemical
characteristics of an organism, as determined by both genetic
makeup and environmental influences.
◉ Law of Dominance. Answer: The principle that states that when
two different alleles are present, the dominant allele will be
expressed.
◉ Law of Segregation. Answer: The principle that states that during
the formation of gametes, the two alleles for a trait segregate from
each other.
◉ Punnett Square. Answer: A diagram used to predict the outcome
of a particular cross or breeding experiment.