Genotype: sometimes, it refers to the genetic make-up, or entire collection of genes possessed by a single organism (as in, this organism’s genotype has been mapped); sometimes used to describe the genetic basis for a single trait (as in, the genotype for blue flowers)

Phenotype: Likewise, sometimes refers to whole organism; most of the time, however, refers to a single physical or behavioral trait (e.g. eye color, obese, tall, manic).

Gametes: The sex cell of a male or female; usually possessing a haploid (half) chromosome set, and capable of initiating formation of a new diploid individual by fusion with a gamete of the opposite sex.

One gene - one enzyme hypothesis (pp. 45-53): the hypothesis that the sequence of nucleotides in a "gene" directly translates into the production of an enzyme, or protein, which is a catalyst of most of the reactions in a cell

The Central Dogma: DNA - > RNA - > protein; more precisely, the double helix "unwinds," transcribing enzymes copy the one strand into mRNA, which carries the information to a Ribosomes in the cell, where it is "translated" via tRNA into amino acids, which form proteins

DNA: deoxyribonucleic acid, the chemical structure of the chromosomes, or hereditary material, made up of nucleotides, forming a helical shape

Nucleotide: DNA and RNA are nucleic acids, made up of four nucleotides: adenine, cytosine, guanine, thymine in the DNA, and uracil instead of thymine in RNA

Universal "Genetic code": Each triplet (three) of nucleotides (codon; e.g. ACG, CAG) translates into specific amino acids, which form proteins. The code is uniform across species.

mRNA/tRNA: messenger RNA, a strand of nucleic acid that is complimentary to DNA being copied; tRNA, used to transfer the information from the mRNA into amino acids and proteins.

Transcription (pp. 53): the first step of copying DNA

Translation: the translation of the copy of the DNA into amino acids.

Mendelian/classical genetics: the discipline that studies patterns of inheritance of traits, assuming that traits are coded for by particulate genes, which segregate at random in the course of passing from parent to offspring, and have characteristic patterns of dominance and recessives.

Particulate heredity: the novel idea (1900) that traits are the product of single particulate hereditary material; contrast: blending heredity (19^th cen) (Heredity as a structure as opposed to heredity as a force)

Population/Evolutionary Genetics: the marriage of classical genetics and evolution (1930s) ; mathematical models are used to describe the process of changes in gene frequency over time from one generation to the next, due to the factors of selection, drift, migration, mutation, and assortative mating.

Quantitative Genetics: the descendent of biometry, the main tools are regression and analysis of variance; the quantitative analysis of how much of patterns of heredity is due to the environment and how much is due to genetics, and how much to interactive factors.

Molecular Genetics: the study of the mechanisms of gene expression

Genomics (functional/structural): structural genomics is the attempt to find the structure of the entire genome (the sequence of A’s, C’s, T’s and G’s of an organism’s genome); functional genomics is the attempt to understand gene function using structural genomics as a tool in experiment.

Recombinant DNA technology: A body of techniques for cutting apart and splicing together different pieces of DNA. When segments of foreign DNA are transferred into another cell or organism, the substance for which they code may be produced along with substances coded for by the native genetic material of the cell or organism. Thus, these cells become "factories" for the production of the protein coded for by the inserted DNA (e.g. insulin).

Restriction enzyme: A protein that recognizes specific, short nucleotide sequences and cuts DNA at the those sites. Bacteria contain over 400 such enzymes that recognize and cut over 100 DNA sequences.

Human Genome Project: the attempt to "map" or find the sequence of A’s, C’s, T’s and G’s of the entire human genome (also mice, C. Elegans, E. coli)

Fidelity of replication: the extent to which the DNA is copied accurately.

SOS genes: genes that are involved in last-ditch repair of DNA; often resulting in poor copies.

Mutator genes: genes which, when defective, elevate the rate of mutation; sometimes they act by reducing the efficacy of an enzyme involved in "proofreading" or error correction during DNA replication

Embryogenesis: the formation and development of an embryo