Introduction to Genetics

1. Topic 1: GENETICS

2. GENETICSWhat do we know?

3. WHAT’S GOING ON?

4. Topic 1: Genetics Genetics is the study of genes, heredity and variation in living organisms. Genes hold the information to build and maintain an organism (living thing). ‘Gen’is Latin for ‘beginning’, because genesare the beginning of how living things are created. So where are our genes anyway??

5. Google: “AMNH Ology” Click “Genetics” as your Ology on the LHS scroll bar Scroll down to “Explore the Evidence: What makes you YOU? What makes me ME?” (Bottom RHS)

15. Topic 1: Genetics Genetics is the study of genes, heredity and variation in living organisms. Genes hold the information to build and maintain an organism (living thing). ‘Gen’is Latin for ‘beginning’, because genesare the beginning of how living things are created. See next page

16. Divide a double page into 6 and draw a series of diagrams that shows where our genes are situated. Title: Where are my genes?

17. Box 1: “Me”/Organism All organisms(living things) are made up of cells. Humans are made up of billions of microscopic cells. Some organisms are only made of one cell.

18. Box 2: Cells Cells are the building blocks of life. There are many different types of cells. E.g. Humans have: skin cells, muscle cells, red blood cells, sex cells and more. Plants have: Photosynthetic cells, stem cells, root cells and more.

19. Box 3: Nucleus Inside each cell is a nucleus. The nucleus is the control center of each cell. This is because it contains genetic material (DNA) which is a code for telling the cell what to do.

20. Box 4: Chromosomes Chromosomes are long thread-like strands of DNA found in the nuclei of cells. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes (46 in total). One set of chromosomes comes from mum, and one set comes from dad.

21. Box 5: Genes Genes are segments of chromosomes (that is a sequence of DNA). A gene controls a particular characteristic of an organism. E.g. Eye colour

22. Box 6: DNA DNA or Deoxyribonucleic Acid makes up the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all organisms. DNA is made up of 4 bases: A, T, C and G. The order and number of these bases spell out the genetic code. Differences in the order of these bases between individual organisms of the same species result in differences in genes. E.g. Brown. Blue, Green or grey eyes.

23. Cell clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOvMNOMRRm8&feature=related

24. How many genes do we have? How similar are we to other living things?

25. Traits Brainstorm a list of traits you think you have received from your parents. Traits are not just physical characteristics, they can also be connected to your behaviour (e.g. dog breeds), intelligence, health (e.g. allergies, good/bad health) interests and personality. Remember, a lot of who you are is not only determined by your genes, but by the environment you are growing up in. E.g. hair colour, intelligence.

26. 8F’s traits Worksheet of 10 traits

27. 8F’s traits

28. Heredity: how our traits are determined Heredity is the passing of traits from parents to their offspring. Humans have two sets of 23 chromosomes (23 pairs, which = 46 in total) When parents conceive a child, they each contribute one complete set to the child, this way, both parents pass genes on to the child.

30. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHWJqzlHl3w&feature=related