Inheritance Our characteristics are inherited through the genetic information (DNA) from parents. DNA is a chemical which contains all of the information needed for a human. A section of DNA is known as a gene, one gene will code for one characteristic. DNA coils to form chromosomes, each human has 46 chromosomes, 23 from each parent. DNA has a double helix structure and is a polymer. Egg and sperm known as gametes, these are cells which contain half the DNA of a normal cell. During fertilisation the nucleus from the egg and sperm fuse together. When the nuclei fuse the chromosomes pair up producing an embryo with 46 chromosomes. Each chromosome is divided into sections of DNA. The sections that hold the information to produce characteristics are called genes. For example, one gene contains the information that determines your eye colour, while a different set of genes controls your hair colour. Each chromosome contains thousands of genes. Some chromosomes are bigger than others therefor contain more genes. Questions 1. How are our characteristics inherited? 2. Where does the genetic information come from which we inherit? 3. What is DNA? 4. What does DNA contain? 5. What is a section of DNA known as? 6. What does a gene code for? 7. What does DNA do to form chromosomes? 8. Suggest why the DNA coils? 9. How many chromosomes does a human have? 10. How many chromosomes do we inherit from each parent? 11. Describe 2 features of the structure of DNA 12. What are egg and sperm known as? 13. What is a gamete? 14. Describe what happens during fertilisation 15. What pairs up during fertilisation? 16. What is produced during fertilisation and how many chromosomes does it have? 17. Chromosomes are divided into sections, what are these section called? 18. Give 2 examples of what a gene can control? 19. How many genes does it each chromosome contain? 20. Are all chromosomes the same size and do they have the same number of genes? Inheritance Our characteristics are inherited through the genetic information (DNA) from parents. DNA is a chemical which contains all of the information needed for a human. A section of DNA is known as a gene, one gene will code for one characteristic. DNA coils to form chromosomes, each human has 46 chromosomes, 23 from each parent. DNA has a double helix structure and is a polymer. Egg and sperm known as gametes, these are cells which contain half the DNA of a normal cell. During fertilisation the nucleus from the egg and sperm fuse together. When the nuclei fuse the chromosomes pair up producing an embryo with 46 chromosomes. Each chromosome is divided into sections of DNA. The sections that hold the information to produce characteristics are called genes. For example, one gene contains the information that determines your eye colour, while a different set of genes controls your hair colour. Each chromosome contains thousands of genes. Some chromosomes are bigger than others therefor contain more genes. Questions 1. How are our characteristics inherited? 2. Where does the genetic information come from which we inherit? 3. What is DNA? 4. What does DNA contain? 5. What is a section of DNA known as? 6. What does a gene code for? 7. What does DNA do to form chromosomes? 8. Suggest why the DNA coils? 9. How many chromosomes does a human have? 10. How many chromosomes do we inherit from each parent? 11. Describe 2 features of the structure of DNA 12. What are egg and sperm known as? 13. What is a gamete? 14. Describe what happens during fertilisation 15. What pairs up during fertilisation? 16. What is produced during fertilisation and how many chromosomes does it have? 17. Chromosomes are divided into sections, what are these section called? 18. Give 2 examples of what a gene can control? 19. How many genes does it each chromosome contain? 20. Are all chromosomes the same size and do they have the same number of genes?
