Introduction to Genetics: Heredity and Traits – Bio A/H
Webquest: (if this URL does not work, go to learn.genetics.utah.edu/ and choose Tour of Basic Genetics
and then “What is Heredity. DO NOT COPY WORD FOR WORD…(except for definitions). Watch the
presentation, then write in your own words. Use vocabulary when appropriate.
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/inheritance/intro/
Go through website answering the following questions
1. Define heredity
2. What defines our traits, genes or the environment? Use a few sentences to explain.
3. Do we inherit traits? If so, from whom.
4. Watch the next few “slides” in the presentation. If each parent contributes one set of
chromosomes, why aren’t all their children “clones” of each other. Write you answer in an
explanatory manner (it should take several sentences).?
5. Is it possible for a child to have a trait that passed through many generations? How might this
occur?
Return to the main menu and choose Tour of Basic Genetics, then “What is a Trait” or type in the
following URL:http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/inheritance/traits/
1. Define a trait. Identify the three types of traits, and provide at least two examples of each trait
(you should provide 3-4 examples of predisposition to medical conditions)
Introduction to Genetics: Heredity and Traits – Bio A/H
2. While our genes play a large role in defining our traits, non-genetic (environmental influences
can be just as important. Identify environmental influences that can impact each example of a
trait that you identified in the first question.
3. The set of genetic information for each form of a trait is called an ______________________.
How many alleles do we carry for each trait?
4. Define homozygous and provide an example.
5. When we have an allele (indicated by a capital letter) that masks or “hides” the trait of another
allele, we refer to the first allele as being ____________________________________., while
the masked allele is considered _________________________. If a person has one of each
allele, for a trait we use the term _____________________________, to describe the presence
of both traits (even though only one is seen.
6.
Because each parent can only pass one of the two alleles that they have to their child, a child
with two heterozygous parents can inherit either a _____________________ or a
______________________ allele from each parent.
7. What are all possible combinations of alleles that the child might get from his/her parents.
Explain why the two Hh are considered DIFFERENT combinations.
Introduction to Genetics: Heredity and Traits – Bio A/H
Thumb extension has a definite dominant and definite recessive allele. However not all traits have a
condition that exhibits Complete Dominance.
8. When White and Red carnations are crossed (one is pollinated by the other), the heterzygote
will not show either of the original colors (White or Red) instead the carnation will be PINK.
When the Heterorzygote shows a blended color, the dominance pattern is said to be
_________________________________ _________________________
9.
While we focus on single gene traits in this unit, many traits are not single gene traits. Instead,
they are complex traits. Explain the difference between single gene traits and complex traits.
10. How much of your genome contributes to the diversity you see in our classroom?