The Unit Organizer
Last Unit:
Cells
Unit Standards:
Reproduction is a
characteristic of all organisms and is essential
for the continuation of a species. Hereditary
information is contained in genes which
are inherited through asexual or sexual
reproduction
Name _____________________________
Big Idea / Overarching Question
Why are organisms different from each other?
Current Unit:
Genetics & Heredity
Unit Map:
Is about…
How inherited traits that are
passed from parent to
offspring
Priority Standards
7.4.3.1.1: Cells contain genes and that each
gene contains information that determines
inherited traits of organisms.
7.4.3.2.3: Variation exists in every
population and can help or hinder an
organism’s ability to survive.
Regular Standards
7.4.1.2.2: Recognize that cells repeatedly
divide to make more cells for growth and
repair.
7.4.3.1.2: Genes come from a single parent
in asexual reproduction and half the genes
come from each parent in sexual
reproduction.
7.4.3.1.3: Distinguish between
characteristics of organisms that are
inherited and those acquired through
environmental influences.
7.4.4.1.1: Describe examples where
selective breeding has resulted in new
varieties of cultivated plants and particular
traits in domesticated animals.
Next Unit:
Classification & Change Over Time
Time Frame:
4 weeks
Create
Are coded in
Genetic Diversity
& Variation
DNA
Can be predicted
using
Punnett Squares
Unit Guiding Questions:
1. How are traits inherited through genes?
2. Why does a child look like its parents?
3. How does using a Punnett square help predict what an organism will look like?
4. How are traits passed on through reproduction?
5. What is the difference between sexual and asexual reproduction?
6. How does cell division help organisms heal?
Are passed
through
Reproduction &
Cell Division
Unit Relationships:
 Calculating Probability
 Comparing & Contrasting
 Analyzing Similarities & Differences
 Predicting
The Unit Organizer
7.4.1.2.2
Recognize that cells repeatedly divide to make more cells for
growth and repair.
Item Specifications
 Items may require students to understand how cells are
replaced in an organism and how an organism gets larger
 Items will NOT require understanding the specific
processes of mitosis and meiosis, although the term mitosis
may be used
 Additional vocabulary may include terms such as cell
division
 Items assessing this benchmark may also assess
benchmarks 7.4.1.2.1 or
7.4.1.2.3
7.4.3.1.1
Recognize that cells contain genes and that each gene carries a
single unit of information that either alone, or with other genes,
determines the inherited traits of an organism.
Item Specifications
 Items will NOT use the terms chromosome, phenotype,
genotype, dominant or recessive
 Items will NOT require students to understand or use a
Punnett square
7.4.3.1.2
Recognize that in asexually reproducing organisms all the genes
come from a single parent, and that in sexually reproducing
organisms about half of the genes come from each parent.
Item Specifications
 Items will NOT require students to understand the process
of meiosis
 Items may require students to know that sex cells contain
half the total genetic information
 Items will NOT use the term chromosome
Name _____________________________
7.4.3.1.3
Distinguish between characteristics of organisms that are inherited
and those acquired through environmental influences.
Item Specifications
 Items will provide relevant background information
 Items may address how some inherited traits can also be
affected by the environment. For example mutations caused
by pollution, organism height, leaf number, leaf color
 Additional vocabulary may include terms such as
instinctive, behavioral and learned characteristics
7.4.4.1.1
Describe examples where selective breeding has resulted in new
varieties of cultivated plants and particular traits in domesticated
animals.
Item Specifications
 Items will provide relevant background information on
traits found in the plants and animals
7.4.3.2.3
Recognize that variation exists in every population and describe
how a variation can help or hinder an organism’s ability to survive.
Item Specifications
 Additional vocabulary may include terms such as
adaptation, genetic diversity