Skip to main content
-
active genotype-environment correlation
-
event in which individuals select particular environments or experiences based on their genotype
-
age of viability
-
age at which a fetus born prematurely (before the thirty-seventh week of pregnancy) may have a chance of survival outside the womb, usually with intensive medical intervention
-
allele
-
variant of a gene
-
amniocentesis
-
test in which a needle is inserted through the mother’s abdomen to take a sample of the amniotic fluid and look for chromosomal disorders and some types of genetic defects
-
Apgar test
-
test administered to a newborn one minute after delivery and again at five minutes after delivery to assess their condition after birth; detects major abnormalities
-
attachment
-
the emotional connection a child feels toward their caregiver based on consistency and quality of care
-
autosome
-
chromosome in the nucleus that is not a sex chromosome
-
behavioral genetics
-
interdisciplinary field that focuses on the study of heredity-behavior relationships
-
blastocyst
-
small cluster of a few hundred cells formed shortly after conception
-
bonding
-
one-way relationship consisting of a caregiver’s emotional connection to the infant
-
cephalocaudal growth
-
growth that occurs from head to feet, allowing a fetus to grow longer
-
cesarean birth
-
medical procedure in which a doctor makes an incision in a birth mother’s abdomen and uterus to deliver the fetus and placenta
-
chorionic villus sampling
-
prenatal test that uses a placental tissue sample to determine whether chromosomal or genetic disorders are present in the fetus
-
chromosomal disorder
-
condition that occurs with an incorrect number of chromosomes or results from structural abnormalities of the chromosome
-
chromosome
-
strand of the DNA sequence in the nucleus of an individual’s cells that carries genes transmitting hereditary information
-
codominant trait
-
characteristic observed when two different alleles are expressed at the same time
-
conception
-
union of sperm and ovum (egg)
-
congenital disorder
-
any abnormality present at birth
-
contraception
-
method used to reduce chances of conception
-
dizygotic twins
-
(or fraternal) twins that occur when two ova are fertilized at the same time
-
DNA (also, deoxyribonucleic acid)
-
molecule that contains an individual’s genetic information
-
DNA methylation
-
process whereby methyl groups are added to or removed from DNA, potentially causing changes in gene expression
-
dominant trait
-
characteristic observed when only one copy of the allele is needed to express a phenotype
-
embryonic period
-
second developmental period of pregnancy, during which the blastocyst becomes an embryo and organogenesis begins
-
evocative (or reactive) genotype-environment correlation
-
event in which an individual’s genetically influenced traits elicit an environmental response
-
failure to thrive
-
situation in which a premature infant’s height and weight are below the third percentile
-
fallopian tube
-
part of the female reproductive system where egg is released and through which it travels to reach the uterus
-
fetal period
-
last developmental period of pregnancy, during which the fetus grows quickly
-
gamete
-
sex cell, the ovum or sperm, that carries twenty-three chromosomes
-
gene
-
hereditary unit composed of a specific DNA sequence that occupies a specific location along a chromosome in an individual
-
genome
-
complete sequence of an organism’s DNA
-
genotype
-
individual’s particular genetic composition of alleles at specific locations
-
genotype × environment interaction
-
event that occurs when the expression of a genotype depends on the environment
-
germinal period
-
first developmental period of pregnancy, when conception occurs and the blastocyst travels through the fallopian tubes to the uterus
-
heterozygous
-
trait in which an individual receives different alleles from each biological parent for a given trait
-
homozygous
-
trait in which an individual receives identical alleles from each biological parent for a given trait
-
hormone
-
chemical released by glands that controls and regulates bodily functions
-
implantation
-
process in which a blastocyst embeds within the uterus
-
in vitro fertilization (IVF)
-
form of assisted reproductive technology (ART) in which a fertilized egg is transferred into a uterus for implantation
-
incomplete dominance
-
form of genetic expression in which both inherited alleles are partially expressed
-
infertility
-
inability to successfully conceive after one year of trying
-
low birth weight
-
birth weight less than 5 lb 8 oz
-
mass-to-specific growth
-
growth in which large movements and structures develop before smaller or more specified movements and structures
-
meiosis
-
type of cell division that occurs during gamete production and results in their containing only one member of each chromosome pair
-
mitosis
-
type of cell division in which a cell duplicates itself and its DNA
-
monozygotic twins
-
(or identical) twins that occur when a zygote splits into two clusters of cells, creating two genetically identical zygotes
-
multifactorial inheritance
-
phenotype resulting from multiple genetic and environmental factors
-
natural childbirth
-
a childbirth method using nonpharmaceutical techniques to help minimize pain and the need for medical intervention for the birth mother
-
neonatal behavioral assessment scale (NBAS)
-
test assessing a newborn’s neurological and physical health, typically given three to four days after birth
-
organogenesis
-
the formation of organs during the embryonic period
-
ovary
-
part of the female reproductive system that releases eggs (ova)
-
oxytocin
-
hormone that helps initiate labor and plays a role in forming bonds with others
-
parental leave
-
policies that allow parents to take time off work, often paid, to care for a newborn for a period of time
-
passive genotype-environment correlation
-
event that occurs when parents provide offspring with both genes and environment
-
phenotype
-
observable expression of someone’s genome
-
placenta
-
a temporary organ connecting the uterus to the umbilical cord that provides respiration and nourishment for the embryo in addition to eliminating metabolic wastes
-
pleiotropy
-
most common form of genetic expression in which one gene influences multiple traits
-
polygenic trait
-
trait influenced by several genes
-
preterm (premature/preemie) infant
-
any infant born before thirty-seven weeks’ gestation and weighing less than 5.5 lb
-
proximodistal growth
-
growth that occurs from the center of the body outward
-
recessive trait
-
trait that requires two identical alleles to be expressed
-
single-gene disorder
-
condition caused by variation in a single gene
-
spontaneous abortion
-
(also, miscarriage) loss of a pregnancy during the first twenty weeks
-
teratogen
-
disease, drug, or environmental agent that can harm an embryo or fetus physically or influence health or behavior after birth
-
testes
-
parts of the male reproductive system that help create and sustain sperm
-
umbilical cord
-
a flexible tube connecting the embryo and the placenta
-
urethra
-
part of the human reproductive system that, in males, transports and releases sperm
-
uterus
-
part of the female reproductive system where a fertilized egg implants to develop
-
vagina
-
muscular canal that connects the uterus to the outside of the female body
-
vas deferens
-
tube that transports sperm from the testes to the urethra
-
vulva
-
external aspects of the female reproductive system including the labia, clitoris, and vaginal opening
-
zygote
-
single cell formed at conception and consisting of forty-six chromosomes, twenty-three from each parent