Unit 4: Genetics - The Science of

Heredity
Cells and Heredity
Chapter 3

4.1 Mendels Work

I. Genetics- the study of heredity

Heredity- the passing of physical

characteristics from parents to offspring

Turn & Talk:

Look at the picture of the
kitten and its mother.
What might the kittens
father look like?

Gregor Mendel- the

Father of Genetics

Mendels Seven Traits

MMendels Experiments

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F1
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Mendels Experiments

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F2

Mendels Experiments

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Mendels Experiments

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II. Genetics Vocab

Genes- factors that control a trait
Trait- a characteristic an organism can pass on to
its offspring through its genes
Alleles- different forms of a gene
*one allele is inherited from each parent

III. Two Types of Alleles

1. Dominant - when present, always causes a trait
to show up in an organism (written as a capital
letter)

2. Recessive - hidden when a dominant allele is

present, but shows up if the organism does not
have the dominant allele (written as a lowercase
letter)

RECESSIVE

DOMINANT

Mendels Seven Traits

Mendels Experiments

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Mendels Experiments

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yy

Yy

YY

YY

Yy

Yy

Yy

Yy

Yy

yy

Polygenic Inheritance
If you inherit
specific traits from
your parents (and
not a combination
of both) then how
can we explain skin
color and height?

Unit 4: Genetics - The Science of

Heredity
Cells and Heredity
Chapter 3

4.1 Mendels Work

4.2 Probability & Heredity

Probability
probability- a number that describes how likely it is
that an event will occur

What is the probability of tossing

heads on a coin?
as a fraction?

__________

as a decimal?

__________

as a percentage?

__________

Mendels Experiments

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Punnett Square- a
chart that shows all
the possible
combinations of
alleles that can
result from a
genetic cross

What is the probability that an offspring will have black

fur (B)?

What is the probability of an offspring with black fur

(mm)?

What is the probability of an offspring with black fur

(mm)?

What is the
probability of an
offspring with brown
fur (bb)?

What is the
probability of an
offspring with brown
fur (bb)?

Phenotypes & Genotypes

phenotype- an organisms physical appearance, or visible
traits (purple flower, blonde hair, etc)
genotype- an organisms genetic makeup, or allele
combination (AA, Aa, yy, etc)

homozygous- two
identical alleles
(YY, yy)

heterozygous- two
different alleles
(Yy)

BE AWARE:
There are
some
exceptions!

III. SEX TRAITS: Determined by X and Y Chromosomes

What is the genotype for males?

What is the genotype for females?
What is the probability of having a male? a female?

Unit 4: Genetics - The Science of

Heredity
Cells and Heredity
Chapter 3

4.1 Mendels Work

4.2 Probability & Heredity
4.3 The Cell & Inheritance

I. Chromosomes & Inheritance

Walter Sutton (1903)

realized that sex cells from grasshoppers have

half the number of chromosomes as body cells
developed the Chromosome Theory of
Inheritance: genes are carried from parents to
their offspring on chromosomes

II. Meiosis
meiosis- process by which the number of
chromosomes is reduced by half to form sex cells
(sperm & eggs)

(MY-OH-SIS)
rhymes with mitosis!

Crossing Over
alleles are exchanged, producing chromosomes that
are genetically different from either parent

* your body cells

contain 35,000 genes!

MITOSIS vs. MEIOSIS

produces ___
daughter cells

produces ___
daughter cells
daughter cells
have ____
chromosomes
produces
________ cells
produces exact
__________ of
parents
divides ___ times

both words
______________!
ways to produce
new __________
similar steps
(______________
and PMAT)

daughter cells
have ____
chromosomes
produces
________ cells
produces variation
__________ than
parents
divides ___ times

DEBATE TOPICS
Are genetics more important in defining a person than environment?
PRO

AGAINST

Should parents be able to create designer babies by choosing childrens sex

and other traits?
PRO

AGAINST

Should we clone humans?

PRO

AGAINST

Would you pay for genetic screening to test for genetic diseases like cancer
and alzheimers?
PRO

AGAINST

Should America allow genetically modified food?

PRO

AGAINST

Remember
codominance?

Some human traits have more than two alleles...

Blood Type

Combination of Alleles

IAIA or IAi

IBIB or IBi

AB

I AI B

ii

Do you know your blood type?