SBI3U Heredity Traits Assignment

1. Heredity is the passing of traits from one generation to another.

2. A trait is a physical or behavioral feature in a person which can be seen. Unlike
genes which a person may have even though they are not apparent or cannot be
seen, traits can be seen and observed.
3. Children look like their parents because they inherit genes from them.
4. Siblings look like each other because they share half of their DNA which means they
share half of their genes and traits which they inherit from their parents.
5. Our traits are located in the codes for our genes, however our traits may change over
time.
6. DNA comes in the form of twisted spirals, called a double helix, and it is found in a
molecule in the cell.
7. Parents each pass on one complete set of n chromosomes when a child is being
conceived, that equals to 2n chromosomes which is the complete number of
chromosomes that humans have. In this way, we get half of our genetic information
from our mother and half from our father.
8. Behavioural traits, physical traits and predisposition to a medical condition.
9. The instructions which are found in our genes define our traits, however
environmental factors can also play a role in changing or shaping our traits.
10. Our traits are most often determined depending on if the alleles for our genes are
dominant or recessive. If there is a dominant gene present in the allele then it will
most often be the trait that shows.
11. This is different for every organism, each human cell holds 46 chromosomes.
12. If the person is male or female.
13. The functions of chromosomes is to hold DNA so that there is even distribution of it
during meiosis and mitosis.
14. To read a chromosome, scientists look at its size, banding pattern and centromere
position.
15. To be able to identify and to tell the 46 chromosomes apart, into 23 each, one set
from each parent.
16. Spindle fibers attach to them.
17. A Karyotype is a complete profile of a persons chromosomes with the 46
chromosomes neatly organized into pairs.
18. To make a karyotype, a picture is taken of the chromosomes from one cell, then they
are cut out, and arranged according to centromere position, size and banding
pattern.
19. There is a protein called the Rh protein that plays a role in the blood type of a person.
Each person either has the Rh protein in their blood type which means is it positive or
it doesnt, meaning its negative.
20. When blood types mix, the body triggers an immune response indicating that the
blood is foreign which leads to blood clotting, this happens if the surface molecules
are different than those of the recipient so the body sees them as a danger.
21. The molecules on the surface of red blood cells are are made up of two different
enzymes which are encoded by different versions of the same genes which means
that blood type is genetic.

22. Sperms and eggs are produced through a process called Meiosis, which occurs in
the testes of the male and in the ovaries of the female, one cell is split into 4 with
their being 4 viable sperm at the end for males and only 1 viable egg for females.
23. When a fertilized zygote is formed it is when the egg is fertilized by the sperm, if each
of these gametes have 23 chromosomes each then combined the zygote will have
46.
24. A genetic disorder will occur.
25. This happens during nondisjunction when homologous chromosomes fail to separate
during meiosis.
26. A genetic disorder will occur.
27. The four types of DNA are: Autosomal DNA, X Chromosome DNA, Y Chromosome
DNA, and Mitochondrial DNA. Autosomal DNA and X Chromosome DNA can tell us
about deep ancestry and recent ancestry. Y chromosome DNA can show information
about paternal lineage. Mitochondrial DNA can show information about maternal
lineage.

28.
29. One set of chromosomes is passed from the mother to the child and another set is
passed from the father to the child.