Genetics and Inheritance
What do offspring inherit from their parents that determine their traits?
Genes
What do proteins determine?
Traits or characteristics
A random change to a gene
Mutation
Two identical gene copies
Homozygous
Brayden is trying to figure out how petal shape is determined in two different roses. In the pink rose, the copies of the gene are the same as each other. In the yellow rose, the copies of the gene are different from each other. How does this affect how many types of proteins there are in each petal cell?
The pink rose has one type of protein for the petal shape feature. The yellow rose has two types of protein for the petal shape feature.
A molecule that genes and chromosomes are made of...
DNA
Having different gene versions.
Heterozygous
True or False: Mutations that change the trait of an organism are common.
False.
Another name for a gene version
Allele
The wing cells of dragonflies have proteins that connect together. In one dragonfly, the structure of the proteins in the wing cells changed, but the amount of that type of protein in the cell stayed the same. What happened to the function of that type of protein?
The changed protein connects differently, so its function changes.
What carries instructions for proteins?
Genes
A long piece of DNA containing genes, squished together in a tight spiral.
Chromosome
What do mutations cause?
In a mutation, the DNA changes which causes the protein structures and/or functions to change.
When male and female reproductive cells combine.
Fertilization
There are two bears that both have the same proteins for ear shape in their cells. The bears have different parents. What can you say about the bears' ear shape?
They will have the same ear shape since their proteins for ear shape are the same, so the proteins will connect in the same way.
This process causes offspring to receive different traits and gene combinations from each other and their parents.
Sexual Reproduction
How many copies of each gene does an organism inherit?
Two (one from each parent)
Can mutations be harmful, helpful, or neutral? (select all that apply)
All Three
These make proteins
Ribosomes
The body cells of scorpions have proteins that connect together. In one scorpion, the structure of the proteins in the body cells changed, but the amount of that type of protein in the cell stayed the same. What happened to the function of that type of protein?
The changed protein connects differently, so its function changes
Why do siblings look different?
They have different gene combinations.
Daily Double!: How can an organism have a trait neither parent shows?
It inherited a recessive gene version (allele) from both parents.
What happens if a mutation stops a protein from forming?
The trait may not appear.
This stores genetic information
DNA (or Chromosomes)
Three tigers have different parents. They all have the same proteins for stripe pattern in their cells. What can you say about the tigers' stripe patterns?
They will have the same stripe patterns since their proteins for stripe pattern are the same, so the proteins will connect in the same way.