Glossary

DNA	Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms. It is composed of four nucleotide bases A, C, G, T (Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine, Thymine). Nucleotides are the structural units of DNA.
Randy's Explanation	The blueprint of all life.
Marker	A genetic marker is a known DNA sequence that can be identified by a laboratory test. Genetic markers can be used to track parentage or an inherited trait such as coat color. Some commonly used types of bovine genetic markers are Microsatellite Polymorphisms (MS) and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP)
Randy's Explanation	A specific place on a DNA strand with something cool to see. Think of a road marker on the interstate. If I say there is a great steak house just north of mile marker 49 on Interstate 10, you could find it and have a T-bone there.
Allele	Alternative form of a gene. One of the different forms of a gene that can exist at a single locus
Randy's Explanation	Same gene different form. I have a truck. I put the tailgate down. The truck is the same with a slight modification.
Gene	Structurally, a basic unit of hereditary material; an ordered sequence of nucleotide bases that encodes a product.
Randy's Explanation	My bull throws calves with a white spot. His genes causes this trait to be carried to the calves.
Variant	An individual organism that is recognizably different from an arbitrary standard type in that species.
Randy's Explanation	Everyone in town drives a dually truck. John has the only 4 wheel drive dually. John has the variant.
Chromosome	A linear end-to-end arrangement of genes and other DNA, sometimes with associated protein and RNA.
Randy's Explanation	I use building blocks and stack them to build a tower, or a house, or a car. It just depends on what type of blocks I have.
DNA Polymorphism	One of two or more alternate forms (alleles) of a chromosomal locus that differ in nucleotide sequence or have variable numbers of repeated nucleotide units.
Randy's Explanation	I'm driving by a McDonalds. Ten miles down the road I see another McDonalds. It's the same format in a different area.
Genotype	The specific allelic composition of a cell, either of the entire cell or more commonly for a certain gene or a set of genes. The genes that an organism possesses.
Randy's Explanation
Haplotype	A set of closely linked genetic markers present on one chromosome which tend to be inherited together (not easily separable by recombination). Some haplotypes may be in linkage disequilibrium.
Randy's Explanation	I buy a lawnmower and it comes with a blade. I could buy it without the blade but it wouldn't work correctly.
Frequency	Selection of a genotype depending on its frequency in the population.
Randy's Explanation	I am looking at a herd of red and black cows. I choose all red ones.

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