AP Biology Flashcards: Non-Mendelian Genetics
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 11 cards to help you master important concepts.
A genetic disorder caused by a mutation in mitochondrial DNA will be passed down from which parent to their children?
The disorder will be passed down from the mother to all of her children due to the principle of maternal inheritance for non-nuclear genes.
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A genetic disorder caused by a mutation in mitochondrial DNA will be passed down from which parent to their children?
The disorder will be passed down from the mother to all of her children due to the principle of maternal inheritance for non-nuclear genes.
List three examples of factors that cause deviations from Mendelian genetics.
Three factors that cause deviations from Mendelian genetics are gene linkage, codominance, and incomplete dominance.
What are sex-linked traits?
Sex-linked traits are characteristics determined by genes located on the sex chromosomes (X or Y), leading to distinct patterns of inheritance.
What is codominance?
Codominance is a non-Mendelian pattern of inheritance where both alleles for a gene are fully and separately expressed in the phenotype.
Where are the genes responsible for non-nuclear inheritance located?
The genes responsible for non-nuclear inheritance are located within the DNA of mitochondria and chloroplasts.
What is non-nuclear inheritance?
Non-nuclear inheritance refers to the transmission of traits through genes located in mitochondria and chloroplasts, outside of the cell's nucleus.
How does pleiotropy represent a deviation from Mendel's model?
Pleiotropy deviates from Mendelian principles because the multiple traits affected by one gene do not segregate independently.
Define pleiotropy.
Pleiotropy is a genetic phenomenon where a single gene influences multiple, often unrelated, phenotypic traits.
What is incomplete dominance?
Incomplete dominance is a non-Mendelian inheritance pattern where the heterozygous phenotype is an intermediate blend of the two homozygous phenotypes.
What is the typical pattern of non-nuclear inheritance in sexually reproducing organisms?
Genes in mitochondria and chloroplasts are typically passed to offspring through maternal inheritance, as these organelles are inherited from the egg cell.
Why do many inherited traits not follow the simple ratios predicted by Mendel's model?
Many traits do not follow Mendelian ratios due to complex genetic factors such as gene linkage, codominance, and incomplete dominance.