2.  Genes  Made up of DNA  Located on the Chromosomes During Meiosis pairs of genes separate and each new cell gets one form of a gene for a specific trait. Genes may have different forms and we call these Alleles.  Always come in pairs (two genes for each trait.)

3.  An organism recieves two genes for each trait, one from each parent.  One of these genes may be stronger or more Dominant, so it overpowers the other and shows up in the offspring. The gene not expressed is called the recessive gene.  Two forms of a gene(alleles) that are the same produce a homozygous organism.  Two forms of a gene (alleles) that are different produce a heterozygous organism.

4.  Organisms that receive 2 of the same gene type – both dominant or both recessive will have pure traits  Ex. A cow has two genes for black color, which is dominant in some breeds. Any offspring of that animal will be black. This animal is considered homozygous with a pure dominant trait for color.  A cow that has genes for a red color is also considered pure, however because red is a recessive trait they would be considered homozygous pure with a pure recessive trait for color.

5.  Organisms with two unlike genes for a certain trait are called Hybrid.  A cow with a dominant gene for black color and recessive gene for red color is considered a hybrid for that trait. The offspring from a pure black bull bred to a pure red cow would be what?

6.  An organism may be Dominant in certain traits and recessive in others.  Dominant traits in one organism may be recessive traits in another organism.