Parents, Heredity and Reproduction

Asexual reproduction

The process where a single parent reproduces by itself, its offspring are identical. Asexual reproduction is when an organism makes a copy of itself without needing a mate.

Chromosome

A structure made of DNA that contains genetic material. Chromosome. A chromosome is a thread-like structure that holds the instructions for building and running a living organism.

Dominant trait

A trait of an allele that masks the other trait. Dominant trait. In simple terms, a dominant trait is a characteristic that appears in an organism when one or both parents pass down the dominant gene for that trait.

Fertilization

When a male reproductive cell sperm joins with a female reproductive cell egg. Fertilization is the process where the sperm and egg merge to form a new organism.

Gene

The part of a chromosome that contains the DNA for a specific trait. gene. A gene is a section of DNA that determines a specific characteristic or trait in a living organism.

Germination

The growth of a new plant from a seed. Germination. It's the process where a seed starts to grow into a plant.

Heredity

The passing of traits from parent to offspring. Heredity. Heredity is the process by which parents pass genes to their children, influencing characteristics like eye color and height.

Inherited trait

A characteristic that is passed from parents to offspring, like eye color. Inherited trait. Inherited traits are features or qualities that are passed down genetically from one generation to the next.

Instinct

The pattern of behavior with which an animal is born. Instinct. Instinct is a natural behavior or reaction that animals and humans are born with and don't have to learn.

Mutation

A change in a cells DNA. Mutation. In simple terms, a mutation is an alteration in the genetic code that can affect how a cell functions or develops.

Pollination

The transfer of plant pollen from the male to the female reproductive structure. Pollination is the process of moving pollen to help plants make seeds.

Recessive trait

A trait that is masked from a dominant allele. Recessive trait. A recessive trait is a characteristic that only appears when an individual has two copies of the recessive allele, not masked by a dominant one.

Sexual reproduction

The production of offspring from two parents. Sexual reproduction. It is a process where two parents combine their genetic material to create unique offspring.