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Genetics and Allele Frequencies definitions

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  • Modern Synthesis
    A unification of Darwinian evolution and Mendelian genetics, emphasizing allele inheritance and population-level changes.
  • Mendelian Genetics
    A framework describing how discrete units, inherited from parents, determine traits in diploid organisms.
  • Phenotype
    Observable traits of an organism, influenced by genetic makeup and sometimes environmental factors.
  • Genotype
    The specific combination of alleles present in an organism, determining its genetic constitution.
  • Gene
    A segment of DNA responsible for coding a trait, serving as a basic unit of heredity.
  • Allele
    A variant form of a gene, with different versions contributing to genetic diversity in a population.
  • Gene Pool
    The complete collection of all alleles present in a population, regardless of individual organisms.
  • Allele Frequency
    The proportion of a specific allele among all alleles in a population, used to track evolutionary change.
  • Homozygote
    An individual possessing two identical alleles for a particular gene.
  • Heterozygote
    An individual carrying two different alleles for a specific gene.
  • Dominance
    A relationship where one allele masks the expression of another in determining phenotype.
  • Fixation
    A state where only one allele exists for a gene in a population, eliminating genetic variation at that locus.
  • Genetic Variation
    The diversity of alleles and genotypes within a population, essential for adaptation and evolution.
  • Diploid
    A cellular condition characterized by two sets of chromosomes, typical of most animals and plants.
  • Evolution
    A process marked by changes in allele frequencies within a population over generations.