Hodgepodge
Why do traits vary, and why do they vary even between parents and offspring and among siblings?
There are so many different combinations of chromosomes that an offspring can have from its parents
Why do you think different protein molecules led to variation in the features you observed?
lead to how they interact and connect with other protein molecules
How can organisms make different protein molecules for a particular feature?
by having different genes that code for those proteins
Where do the copies of each gene come from?
one inherited from each parent
What does Protein Molecule mean?
a type of large molecule that performs important functions inside organisms
Why do traits for silk flexibility vary within this family of Darwin’s bark spiders?
The spiders in this family must have different proteins for silk flexibility in their cells. Variation in traits can be caused by variation in protein molecules within individuals' cells.
Why did traits sometimes change after protein molecules were added?
because proteins are the functional units produced by genes, and altering the protein composition within a system directly impacts the biological processes occurring, thereby affecting the observable traits of an organism
Why do some organisms make one type of protein for a feature and other organisms make two?
The two copies of a gene for each feature can the same version (homozygous) and provide instructions for only one type of protein
How does sexual reproduction result in variation among offspring?
Offspring inherit one set of chromosomes from each parent
What does Sturcture mean
the way something is shaped or constructed
What determines an organism’s traits at the molecular scale?
the sequence of nucleotides in its DNA, specifically the genes encoded within that DNA, which instruct the production of proteins that ultimately manifest
Based on what we have learned from this evidence, would you recommend that BayMedical Company continue researching the ACTN3 protein molecule? Why or why not?
yes, BayMedical Company should continue researching the ACTN3 protein molecule because it shows a strong potential link between the ACTN3 gene variant and athletic performance,
How does changing the spiders’ genes affect their proteins and resulting traits?
alters the protein's structure and function, leading to noticeable changes in the spider's physical traits, particularly in the properties of its silk,
What does feature mean?
a characteristic that all members of a species have
What does function mean?
how something works
How do different protein molecules lead to different traits for silk flexibility?
spider silk contains more proline amino acids, which makes it more elastic and flexible.
Why do Darwin’s bark spiders make different proteins for silk flexibility?
their genes contain variations that code for different silk protein structures
Why do Darwin's bark spider offspring have different gene combinations even though they have the same parents?
variation in protein molecules within individuals' cells.
What does Trait mean?
a specific characteristic of an individual organism
What does Gene mean?
how something works
How did sexual reproduction lead to variation in body color in Otis and Ruby’s offspring?
offspring inherit a combination of genetic traits from both parents.
How do organisms get their genes?
by inheriting them from their parents, receiving one copy of each gene from their mother and one copy from their father through the process of sexual reproduction
Do any of the offspring have a gene version that is not present in either parent?
Yes, it is possible for offspring to have a gene version that is not present in either parent
What doe Variation mean?
any difference in traits between individual organisms
What is a Gene Verision?
A specific form of gene that provides insrtuctions for making a protien molecule