mutation any change in an organism’s genetic material

albinism a condition caused by a mutation that affects the pigment producing cells in the skin

lethal mutation mutation that causes death

gene mutation occurs when there are changes in the sequence of bases in the segment of DNA that makes up a gene

somatic mutation gene mutation in a body cell

germ mutation mutations that occur in gametes or the cells that form gametes

diploid a cell in which the nucleus has two copies of each chromosome

ploidy change in number of chromosomes

Down syndrome human disorder that occurs when a person has an extra twenty-first chromosome

carrier an individual who possesses a gene for a specific trait but does not exhibit that trait

biotechnology applying scientific knowledge and principles to God’s creation

selective breeding man chooses organisms with desirable traits and breeds them with hopes that their offspring will inherit the desirable traits

inbreeding mating of an organism with its close relatives or, in the case of plants, with itself

crossbreeding organisms with different traits are bred to produce offspring

hybrid vigor when hybrids are stronger than their parents because they have several desirable characteristics

genetic engineering using special techniques to control the genetic makeup of an organism

Bacterial chromosome before genetic engineering 1 Bacterial chromosome before genetic engineering

2 Chromosome is cut.

Desired gene for protein is inserted. 3 Desired gene for protein is inserted.

Gene is reproduced as bacteria divide. 4 Gene is reproduced as bacteria divide.

Bacteria gene directs production of new protein (darker blue). 5 Bacteria gene directs production of new protein (darker blue).

6 Bacteria are killed and cell fragments removed; desired protein remains.

scientific effort to map the human genome Human Genome Project scientific effort to map the human genome

clone group of genetically identical organisms produced by asexual reproduction