Genotype

The genetic constitution of an organism (e.g., TT, Tt, or tt).

Dihybrid Cross

A hybridisation experiment involving two pairs of contrasting traits.

Mendel’s Laws of Inheritance

Basic principles describing how traits are inherited through genes from parents to offspring.

Law of Dominance

In a pair of alleles, one is dominant and its trait is expressed.

Law of Segregation

During gamete formation, the two alleles for a trait separate without mixing.

Law of Independent Assortment

Different traits are inherited independently when more than one pair of traits is involved.

Incomplete Dominance

A condition where the dominant allele does not fully mask the recessive allele, resulting in a blend (e.g., red + white = pink flower).

Co-dominance

A condition where both alleles express themselves equally (e.g., roan coat in cattle).

Multiple Allelism

When more than two alleles exist for a single gene (e.g., ABO blood group system in humans).

Polygenic Inheritance

A trait controlled by two or more genes (e.g., skin colour).

Crossing Over

The exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes during meiosis, leading to variation.

Chiasma

The point where homologous chromosomes exchange parts during crossing over.

Mutation

A sudden heritable change in genetic information caused by replication errors or environmental factors.