Biology key terms

Having the same genetic information.

Describes an organism whose genetic material has been changed using genetic engineering.

An organism whose genetic material has been changed using genetic engineering.

An organism whose genetic material has been changed using genetic engineering.

The study and comparison of DNA or RNA sequences to investigate relationships between organisms.

The order of nucleotide bases in DNA, represented by the letters A, T, C and G, that carries biological information.

A diagram showing the possible chromosome or allele combinations that offspring could inherit from their parents.

A diagram showing the parental genotypes, the alleles in their gametes and the possible genotypes of their offspring.

The range of different alleles present in a population.

Changing an organism’s genome by introducing a gene from another organism to give a desired characteristic.

The material that carries the biological instructions controlling a cell; it is made of DNA.

A change to an organism's genetic material, such as inserting a gene that gives it a useful characteristic.

The likelihood that a person will develop a particular disease, estimated using genetic and sometimes non-genetic information.

The study of inheritance and variation in organisms.

Examining DNA to find particular alleles or genetic variants.

A version of a region of DNA whose base sequence differs from another version.

Variation caused by differences in inherited genetic material.

All the genetic material of an organism.

Determining the order of nucleotide bases in DNA; whole-genome sequencing reads this order across an organism’s genome.

A difference in the DNA sequence among individuals or cells.

The combination of alleles an individual has for a gene, such as Pp.

The relative numbers of offspring predicted to have each combination of alleles.

A group of closely related species and the first part of an organism's scientific name.

Processes that change or destroy rocks, such as tectonic movement, heat, pressure, erosion and weathering.

The beginning of growth of the embryo in a seed to form a seedling.

A reproductive cell, such as an egg or sperm, or a cell that produces reproductive cells. A germline genetic change could be inherited by future generations.

A plant hormone used commercially to initiate seed germination, promote flower and fruit formation, and produce seedless fruit.