Genetics Investigating Human Traits

Investigating Human Traits 2/5/16 Key Question: What do we inherit from our parents? Initial Thoughts:

Evidence 1: Notes Has anyone ever told you that you have your mother’s or father’s eyes? Or have you ever wondered why the children in a certain family look so similar? These similarities not only occur in people, but in plants and animals as well. This is called HEREDITY.

DNA make up Chromosomes

What a the alleles on the chromosome looks like

Heredity Heredity is the process of passing on traits from parents to offspring. These are called inherited traits.

What are Traits? Characteristic vs. Trait Characteristic - i.e. Eye Color Trait - different versions of a characteristic; i.e. brown, blue, green How much variation is shown in our class?

Inherited Traits vs Acquired Traits Inherited Traits: traits you are born with. Acquired Traits: skills that you have learned over time.

Evidence 2: Trait Survey Tongue rolling Thumb Position Widow’s peak Attached earlobes Dimples Hitchhikers thumb Freckles Cleft chin Eye color Paper tasting

Trait: Tongue Rolling

Trait: Thumb Position

Trait: Widow’s Peak Peak! No peak! ology.arizona.edu/sciconn/heredity/worksheet_heredity.html&h=131&w=100&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwidow%2527s%2Bpeak%26sta rt%3D20%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DN

Trait: Not Attached vs. Attached Earlobes

Trait: Dimples

Trait: Hitchhiker’s Thumb

Trait: Freckles on Face

Trait: Cleft Chin

Trait: Taste Test ptc/ ptc/ PTC – No taste, bitter, extremely bitter Sodium Benzoate – no taste, salty, bitter, sweet

Trait Survey You will interview 10 people. Ask them the question from your survey. Record their answer on your survey sheet.

Trait Survey Results Find 4 people with different surveys than you. Show your results with each other. Create a graph in your journal to reflect the results.

Human Traits

Misconceptions Many people think that dominant traits are more common than recessive traits. A dominant trait is not necessarily more common. A recessive trait is not necessarily rarer.

Analysis Questions 1.What is the conclusion of your graph? 2.What would happen if you were able to ask more people? 3.List your individual traits.

Summary What did you think about the variation of human traits before this lesson? What does your evidence show you that you learned about the variation of human traits? What are some thoughts or questions you have about human traits?

Reflection Create an analogy for characteristics and traits.

Big Idea We inherit genes from our parents which result in us having different traits.