Inheritance

• What determines some characteristics in individuals?


  Inherited variation from parents' genetic information
• What does genetic information refer to?

  Information passed from parents to offspring
• What controls cell activity?

  The nucleus
• What does DNA stand for?

  Deoxyribonucleic acid
• What does DNA contain?

  All genetic information for inherited characteristics
• How many chromosomes do humans have?

  46 chromosomes in total
• How is DNA packaged in cells?

  Into chromosomes within the nucleus
• What is a polymer?

  A long molecule made of repeating units
• What shape does DNA have?

  Double helix
• What is a gene?

  A specific length of DNA coding for a characteristic
• How many genes might code for a single characteristic?

  Several genes can interact for one characteristic
• How do you inherit genes from your parents?

  You receive half from each parent
• What happens during fertilization?

  The sperm and egg nuclei fuse
• How many chromosomes do sex cells have?

  23 chromosomes
• What is the result of fertilization in terms of chromosomes?

  The fertilized cell has 46 chromosomes
• What does the fertilized cell do after formation?

  It divides repeatedly to form the baby
• Why are you not identical to your parents?

  You inherit different combinations of genes
• How do genes from parents interact?

  They determine your characteristics together
• What is the process of inheritance from parents to offspring?

  • Genetic information is passed from parents
  • Sperm and egg cells are sex cells with 23 chromosomes
  • Fertilization results in a cell with 46 chromosomes
  • Cells divide to form the baby
• What are the roles of genes in determining characteristics?

  • Genes code for specific traits
  • Multiple genes can influence a single trait
  • Interaction of genes from both parents shapes characteristics
• How can a Punnett square be used in genetics?

  To calculate probability of inherited characteristics
• What is the study of inheritance called?

  Heredity
• What does heredity focus on in biology?

  It focuses on the study of inheritance
• If you want to predict the traits of offspring, which tool would you use?

  Punnett square
• How does a Punnett square help in understanding heredity?

  It visualizes genetic combinations and probabilities