Glossary
X-ray: X-rays possess the properties of penetrating most substances, of acting on a photographic film or plate, and of causing a fluorescent screen to give off light.Inheritance: The passing of traits from parent to child through genes.
Mortality: The death rate, measured as the number of deaths per a certain population; may describe the population as a whole, or a specific group within a population.
Mutation: Any change in the DNA of a cell. Mutations may be caused by mistakes during cell division, or they may be caused by exposure to DNA-damaging agents in the environment. Mutations can be harmful, beneficial, or have no effect.
DNA: he abbreviation for "deoxyribonucleic acid," the primary carrier of genetic information found in the chromosomes of almost all organisms.