Science Notecards

Front 1

Genetic Variation

Back 1

Definition: Variations within a species.
Sentence: Adaptation is a form of genetic variation and can help a species survive.

Front 2

Chromosomes

Back 2

Definition: Visible structures containing chromatin in the early stages of cell division.
Sentence: Humans have 46 pairs of chromosomes.

Front 3

Genotype

Back 3

Definition: The traits that you inherit
Sentence: Your genotype comes from the genes you inherit your parents.

Front 4

Heredity

Back 4

Definition: Passing of genetic material from parent to offspring
Sentence: Evolution can be caused by heredity

Front 5

Genetics

Back 5

Definition: Branch of biology that deals with heredity
Sentence: Many people study genetics

Front 6

Natural Selection

Back 6

Definition: The process by which organisms inherit advantageous traits
Sentence: Natural Selection is a type of evolution

Front 7

Adaptation

Back 7

Definition: An inherited trait that helps an organism reproduce and survive
Sentence: Many organisms adapt to their surroundings to survive

Front 8

Phenotype

Back 8

Definition: Observable traits
Sentence: You can carry a trait, but your phenotype is the one you express

Front 9

Scientific law

Back 9

Definition: Description of a specific relationship under given conditions in the natural world
Sentence: A law describes what happens in nature

Front 10

Extinction

Back 10

Definition: When an entire species has died out
Sentence: Dinosaurs became extinct a long time ago

Front 11

Dominant

Back 11

Definition: Describes an allele that is fully expressed when carried by only a pair of homologous chromosomes
Sentence: A dominant allele is represented by an upper case letter

Front 12

Fossil Record

Back 12

Definition: A record of all the fossils that have ever been collected
Sentence: You can learn about evolution through studying the fossil record

Front 13

Fossil

Back 13

Definition: Remains or imprints of once-living organisms
Sentence: Though many fossils have been found, they are very rare because most dead organisms are recycled back into the biological world

Front 14

Punnett square

Back 14

Definition: Graphic used to predict the genotype of offspring in a given cross
Sentence: You can use a Punnett square to predict what traits and an offspring can have

Front 15

Dominant Trait

Back 15

Definition: A trait that is more prominent then the other
Sentence: Brown eyes are a dominant trait

Front 16

Pedigree Chart

Back 16

Definition: Traces of occurrence of a trait through generations of a family
Sentence: Pedigree charts are mainly used to predict recessive traits

Front 17

Scientific Theory

Back 17

Definition: Widely supported explanation of nature
Sentence: Scientific theories explain why something happens in nature

Front 18

Recessive

Back 18

Definition: Describes an allele that is expressed only when no dominant allele is present in an individual
Sentence: A recessive allele is represented by a lower case letter

Front 19

Allele

Back 19

Definition: Different versions of the same gene
Sentence: If there are a dominant and recessive allele, then there is a heterozygous gene

Front 20

Recessive Trait

Back 20

Definition: A trait that is not as prominent as a dominant trait
Sentence: Blue eyes are a recessive trait

Front 21

Homozygous

Back 21

Definition: An organism with 2 dominant or recessive genes
Sentence: A homozygous gene has two identical alleles

Front 22

Heterozygous

Back 22

Definition: An organism with one dominant and recessive gene
Sentence: A heterozygous gene has two different alleles

Front 23

Environmental Factors

Back 23

Definition: Factors that determine whether a species can survive in an environment
Sentence: Rain levels are environmental factors

Front 24

Gene

Back 24

Definition: Segments of DNA found in chromosomes that give instructions for producing a certain characteristic
Sentence: Your genes come from your parents