Dictionary

adoption triad: An umbrella term used to describe the three-sided relationship that exists in an adoption situation between birth parents, adoptive parents, and the adoptee.

alleles: Variations at a particular site on a chromosome.

ancestry: A family line traced from birth parents back through generations.

autosomal DNA tests: A method of genetic testing which determines the percentages of an individual’s genetic heritage (such as Native American or East Asian).

birth parents: A term used to refer to the biological parents of a child, regardless of whether the parents of the child are married to each other, or are shown as the parents of the child on its birth certificate.

bloodline: A direct line of descent or pedigree.

chromosomes: Bundles of DNA that vary in size, shape, and function. They are most visible when cells divide and carry a person’s genetic information.

carrier testing: A process that is used to identify people who carry one copy of a gene mutation that, when present in two copies, causes a genetic disorder.

deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA): A double-stranded nucleic acid that carries the genetic information in the cell and is capable of self-replication.

DNA diagnostic test: A test that gathers a person’s DNA for the purpose of finding out a person’s genetic history or paternity.

dna profiling: A technique used by forensic scientists to assist in the identification of individuals on the basis of their DNA profiles.

dna testing: A technique that is used to distinguish between individuals of the same species using only samples of their DNA.

dominant gene: A gene that, when present even in a single copy, determines a certain trait or characteristic.