Genetics & Punnett Squares

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What is a genotype?

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The genetic makeup of an organism, represented by the alleles it possesses.

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What is a phenotype?

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The observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism, determined by its genotype.

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What does homozygous mean?

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An organism with two identical alleles for a trait (e.g., AA or aa).

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What does heterozygous mean?

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An organism with two different alleles for a trait (e.g., Aa).

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What is codominance?

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A genetic scenario where both alleles in a heterozygote are fully expressed, resulting in a phenotype that shows both traits (e.g., speckled flowers).

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What is incomplete dominance?

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A genetic scenario where the phenotype of a heterozygote is intermediate between the phenotypes of the two homozygotes (e.g., red and white flowers producing pink flowers).

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What is a Punnett square?

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A diagram used to predict the outcome of a genetic cross by showing the possible combinations of alleles from the parents.

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What is the purpose of a test cross?

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To determine the genotype of an organism with a dominant phenotype by crossing it with a homozygous recessive individual.

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What is the law of segregation?

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The principle that during the formation of gametes, the two alleles for a trait separate from each other.

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What is the law of independent assortment?

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The principle that alleles for different traits are distributed to gametes independently of one another.