Genetics
Dear Parents and Students,
In the next month we will be studying genetics.
We begin our study by analyzing the characteristics observed in our class. Characteristics are qualities that define a
person, place or thing. Traits are different versions of a characteristic. For example, when looking at the characteristic of
eye color, possible traits are blue eyes, green eyes, brown eyes, gray eyes and hazel eyes.
Traits that are passed down from parents to offspring are called inherited traits. The inherited bits of information that are
passed from parent to child are called genes. All organisms have genes and inherited traits. When an organism
reproduces asexually it receives all of its genetic material from one parent, the offspring does not differ from the parent, it
is an exact copy. When an organism reproduces sexually it will have genetic material from each parent and the offspring
inherits a unique set of characteristics. This leads to more genetic diversity in a population.
Offspring receive one version of a gene from each parent; versions of a gene are called alleles. They may receive two
dominant alleles (homozygous dominant), a dominant and a recessive allele (heterozygous) or two recessive alleles
(homozygous recessive). In normal dominant-recessive inheritance patterns if an offspring receives even one dominant
allele it will show the dominant trait, the organism must receive two recessive alleles in order to show the recessive trait.
An Austrian monk, named Gregor Mendel, was the first to recognize this pattern when he bred thousands of pea plants
and realized that for all the characteristics he studied, the offspring showed a 3:1 ratio of the dominant to the recessive
trait. For his contribution to the study of genetics as a science, Mendel is known as the father of genetics.
A Punnett Square is a diagram that helps to predict the outcome of a genetic cross. Genetic characteristics can be
tracked through multiple generations and displayed on a family tree called a pedigree.
Punnett Square diagram goes
here
During reproduction, errors in copying genes may occur, this type of random change is known as a mutation and may
lead to the offspring developing an original trait that maybe harmful, helpful, or have no effect.
Genes are not the only thing that determine your characteristics, many characteristics are influenced by your genetics and
your environment. Nature (the genes you have) and nurture (your environment) both affect the characteristics you show.
For example, someone may have genes to be very tall, but is malnourished when young and therefore they do not grow
as tall as they potentially could have.
Learning Objectives:
o
o
o
o
I can construct an explanation that describes how genetic variations in a population increase some
individuals’ probability of surviving and reproducing.
I can synthesize information about technologies that have changed how humans influence the
inheritance of traits.
I can describe why mutations may affect the structure and function of an organism.
I can develop and use a model to describe why asexual reproduction results in genetically identical
offspring and sexual reproduction results in offspring that are a mixture of both parents.
Unit Project:
This unit each student will create an informational brochure
about an infectious or genetic disease of their choice.
Important Dates:
o February 22 – Introduce Project
o February 23 – Library Research Day (Laing &
Trombley)
o February 25 – Library Research Day (Donahoe)
o March 1 – Rough Draft Due
o March 4 – Project Work Day
o March 11 – Project Due
o February 1 – Project Due
Review Materials
TedEd
o
o
o
o
How I discovered DNA
DNA: The book of you
The twisting tale of DNA
How Mendel’s pea plants helped us
understand genetics
o What happens when your DNA is damaged?
o Sex determination: More complicated than you
thought
BrainPOP
o Genetics
o Heredity
o DNA
o RNA
o Mutations
o Twins
o Cloning
o Dolly the Sheep
o Stem Cells
ScienceSaurus Textbook
o Pages 112-123
BrainPOP Login Information
Login: Issaquahmiddle
Password: Panthers
Try This At Home!
o
o
o
o
Conduct some research on how genetics are used to help identify people and solve crimes. Write a
mystery story that includes the use of genetic testing to solve the mystery.
Collect pamphlets and brochures on genetic diseases from a doctor’s office. What do these diseases
have in common? What are the differences between them? Create a Venn diagram or T-chart
comparing two genetic diseases.
Research breakthrough gene therapies that are being used to cure cancer. Write a new article
describing how one of these therapies has helped advance cancer treatment.
Read some articles on genetically modified foods, write an opinion piece on the pros and cons of
genetically modified foods.