#AP Biology: Genetics - The Night Before 🧬

Hey! Let's get you feeling confident about genetics for your AP Bio exam tomorrow. We're going to break down the key concepts, hit the high-yield stuff, and make sure you're ready to ace it! Let's dive in!

#Mendelian Genetics: The Basics

• Gregor Mendel, the father of modern genetics, laid the foundation for our understanding of inheritance. His laws are crucial!
• He figured out how traits are passed down through generations.

• DNA and RNA are the molecules that carry genetic information. 🧬
• Ribosomes (protein factories) are essential in all life forms because they use RNA to create proteins.

• Law of Segregation: During gamete (sperm/egg) formation, allele pairs separate, so each gamete gets only one allele per trait. Think of it like a fair split. ⚖️
• Law of Independent Assortment: Alleles for different traits separate independently of each other during gamete formation. This means that the inheritance of one trait doesn't affect the inheritance of another. 💡

#Essential Vocabulary: Know Your Terms

• Phenotype: The physical appearance of a trait. (e.g., red flowers, tall plants). Remember: Phenotype = Physical. 🌸
• Genotype: The genetic makeup of a trait (the specific alleles). (e.g., AA, Aa, aa). Remember: Genotype = Genes. 🧬
• Allele: A version of a gene (dominant or recessive). Most genes have two alleles.
• Homozygous Recessive: Two recessive alleles (e.g., aa). Only this genotype shows the recessive phenotype. 🔑
• Dominant: An allele that masks the expression of a recessive allele (e.g., A). 💪
• Recessive: An allele that is masked by a dominant allele (e.g., a). 🙈
• Homozygous Dominant: Two dominant alleles (e.g., AA). Shows the dominant phenotype.
• **Het...