Download Exploring Heredity Graphic Organizer

Learning From the Fossil Record
Grade 8 Science
Name: Caroline B.
Date: 1/3/11
Exploring Heredity Graphic Organizer
1. Go to the following website: http://www.amnh.org/ology/?channel=genetics&c#
2. Click on the following features:
“What’s the Big Idea about Genetics?”
“Explore the Evidence: What Makes You, You; What Makes Me, Me?”
3.
Use these features to complete the graphic organizer/ answer the questions below.
a. Genes are pieces of
in each cell’s
nucleus
DNA
that make up
. These genes give use our
chromosomes
traits.
that are found
.
Each cell has genes in it. When you are in the cell you go to the nucleus. Once you are inside the nucleus,
you then go to the chromosomes. We have 46 of them. Once you get their you have to go inside of the
chromosomes, and then you see the DNA. (Deoxyribonucleic acid) Go inside the DNA, and there are
small pieces of genes. These are the actual pieces that give you the trait.


In each cell there are 46 exact copies of the chromosomes. But only certain cells read certain
genes.
If anything other than the “norm” happens it can be explained from a disorder or disease.
Learning From the Fossil Record
Grade 8 Science
Name: Caroline B.
Date: 1/3/11
b. Each cell in our body has the same genes because of
come from your
mother
and half come from your
fact that we get our genes from them is called
get





two
our parents
inheritance
genes through the process of
but half
. The
father
. So, for each trait we have,
specialization
.
Each cell in our body has the same genes because of cell division.
Father (sperm) Mother (egg)
The fact that we get our genes from them is call heredity.
The type of gene is always on the same chromosomes. But the type may be different.
Ex. Eye color for dad may be blue, but for mom may be brown.
So, for each trait we have get, two genes through the process of reproduction.
Learning From the Fossil Record
Grade 8 Science
Name: Caroline B.
Date: 1/3/11
c. Each cell has the same genes (e.g., genes for eye color, hair color, dimples), but the trait is not
shown in every cell because


the nucleus tells the cells which genes to read and use out of
the traits.
.
Each cell has the same genes (e.g., genes for eye color, hair color, dimples), but the trait
is not shown in every cell because each cell reads only the genes relevant to it.
Example: Hair will read hair color.
5 For each trait we get two genes, one from our mother and one from our father.