| allele |
one of several forms of a gene responsible for hereditary variations, usu. produced by mutation. |
| cistron |
in biology, the smallest strand of DNA needed for the synthesis of one polypeptide; gene. |
| dominant |
in genetics, of a gene or trait that masks the influence of a recessive when the two appear together. (Cf. recessive.) [1/4 definitions] |
| epigenetic |
of or pertaining to a heritable change in gene function that does not involve a change in DNA sequence. |
| epigenetics |
the study of heritable changes in gene function that do not involve a change in DNA sequence. |
| genetic drift |
evolutionary change because of mutations that result from random changes in gene frequency in a small population and that become established in that population. |
| heterozygote |
an organism that has two variants of a particular gene. |
| heterozygous |
pertaining to an organism that has two variants of a particular gene. |
| homozygote |
an organism that has a single variant of a particular gene. |
| homozygous |
pertaining to an organism with a single variant of a particular gene. |
| hypostasis |
the suppression or concealment of one gene by another gene that is not its allele. [1/4 definitions] |
| locus |
the position of a gene on a chromosome. [1/3 definitions] |
| mutate |
to display or cause to display a physical trait or characteristic that is different from one's parent or parents as a result of a change within a gene or chromosome. |
| sex-linked |
of a gene or genetic trait, carried on the chromosome that determines gender. |
| unit character |
a characteristic or trait determined by one gene or a gene pair. |