<p> Genetics Notes Genetics - the study of how traits are inherited.</p><p>Heredity - the passing of traits from parent to offspring. These traits are controlled by genes.</p><p>What are genes?????</p><p>Genes - segments of DNA and found on chromosomes. Genes control specific traits.</p><p>Gregor Mendel</p><p>The father of genetics Studied science and math, but eventually became a monk.</p><p>He was in charge of the gardens at the monastery.</p><p>He began experimenting with pea plants.</p><p>Dominant - the form of a trait that appears to dominate or hide another form of the same trait. Recessive - the form of a trait that appears to disappear behind the dominant form of that trait.</p><p>Behind the scenes, the genes control the flower color. The genes come in pairs (because chromosomes come in pairs). One from Mom and one from Dad.</p><p>Alleles - Different forms a gene may take (for example: pink allele, white allele). Dominant and recessive alleles are represented by letters. A capital letter stands for a dominant allele and a small letter stands for a recessive allele. Always use the letter for the dominant allele.</p><p>A tool that shows how a parent's genes can combine. It is used to predict the characteristics of the offspring.</p><p>1. Which color is dominant? Recessive?</p><p>2. What letter would you pick to represent an allele for pod color? 3. How would you write letter for the dominant pod color allele?</p><p>4. How would you write the letter for the recessive pod color allele?</p><p>5. What two alleles could a yellow pea pod have? ______</p><p>6. What two of alleles could a green pea pod have? ______& ______</p><p>7. Complete the Punnett square.</p><p>8. A smooth pea is dominant over a wrinkled pea. What type of pea would have the following:</p><p>Ss - SS - </p><p> ss - </p><p>8. Create a Punnett Square for Ss x Ss. Genotype - the genetic make-up of a particular trait. Example: PP, Pp, pp</p><p>Phenotype - the physical trait of a gene. Example: pink flower, white flower</p><p>Homozygous - when the two alleles of a gene are exactly the same. Example: PP, pp. Also called purebred.</p><p>Heterozygous - when the two alleles of a gene are different. Example: Pp. Also called hybrid. </p>