BASIC HEREDITY

By Lee Christie

Slide 1

Part 1Introduction and Materials

Introduction: This book will introduce you to the wonders of our genes.

Materials: Basic Heredity Virtual reading journal

Slide 2

Part 2Introduction and

Background Knowledge

Think about what traits you have inherited from your parents. Do you have the same color eyes or hair? Do you laugh the same way?

List some of the characteristics you have inherited on the class blog.

Slide 3

Part 3Before Reading

In this book you will find many new words that are very important to understand. Slow down your reading and make sure you understand how each word describes part of the building blocks that make you who you are. Come back to this page when you find the following words in your reading.

Vocabulary Base pair: two bases that bond together to form one rung on the DNA

molecule. (page 5) Chromosome: the rod-like structure in the cell’s nucleus (middle)

that contains genes. (page 7) DNA: deoxyribonucleicacid, the chemical that contains an

organism’s genetic code. ( page 4) Gene: part of DNA; each gene holds the instructions for making one

or more proteins. (page 2) Genome: the complete genetic information of a living being. (page 5) Heredity: the passing of genes and characteristics from parents to

their children. ( page 2)

Slide 4

View the following videos to gain some initial

understanding of DNA

Simple Science DNA How DNA Works

Slide 5

During Reading

Read Chapter 1 pages 1-11. Monitor your reading speed. With informational text you need to read slower and think about the information given. Question yourself as to whether you understand the new vocabulary and how it fits into the main subject of heredity. Review vocabulary from slide 4 as you come to each vocabulary word.

Slide 6

During Reading

Follow the directions for “Talk About It” on page 7. The direction is, “Review the information you have read so far. Then tell a partner the difference between DNA, genes, and chromosomes.

After you have finished your discussion, write the main differences in your virtual reading journal. Copy and paste the next slide into your journal and record your ideas. To do this take a screen capture of the next slide, open a word document, and then press paste.

Slide 7

Add to Your Virtual Reading Journal

List at least one difference under each word. Use the definitions of the words to help you.

DNA

Genes

Chromosomes

Slide 8

Back to the Book

You are now going to get ready to read chapter 2. Please review the vocabulary on the next slide before reading.

As you read chapter 2 you will find that plants have DNA and genetic codes as well.

Slide 9

Vocabulary for Chapter 2 Allele: one of several forms a gene can take. (page 19) Dominant: an allele with a dominant trait always shows up in

the person. Genotype: the actual genetic makeup of an organism. (page

16) Imprinting: the way the same genes can cause one type of

disease if passed down from the father and another type of disease if passed down from the mother. (page 15)

Mutation: a random change to one or more base pairs or genes. ( page 12)

Phenotype: the observable display of a trait in a living thing, in other words, the traits you can see on the outside. (page 16)

Recessive: an allele that expresses its trait in the next generation only if there are two copies. In other words: if both parents pass on the same recessive gene their child could have that trait.

Slide 10

Chapter 2

Read chapter 2, pages 12-21.

Slide 11

After Reading Chapter 2 This chapter gives a great deal of information,

but probably raises some questions as well. 1. List 2 questions in your virtual reading

journal. 2. Choose 1 question to post to our class blog

and post it. 3. Read the questions other students have

written and respond to one of the questions. (Can be an answer, your thoughts on the question, or confirming that you have the same question.)

Slide 12

Chapter 3

In the last chapter you will find out about some scientific experiments that have been conducted, and some real people and how their genetics have effected them. You will also find out about how your environment plays a big part in who you are.

Slide 13

Vocabulary for Chapter 3

Genetics: the study of genes and heredity. (page 26).

Slide 14

Read Chapter 3

Read chapter 3, pages 22-29.

Slide 15

After Reading

Review the questions and answers on our class blog.

Review the major ideas of the book in your virtual reading journal. Copy and paste the following slide into your journal.

Slide 16

Summarize

Summarize the main points of this book. Be sure to include the following words in your description. Refer back to your book if needed.

Heredity Genes DNA Traits

Slide 17

Beyond Reading

Here are some activities you can do if time allows:

Create your own model of DNA. Some examples are listed at the website below.

http://dnamazing.com/media/how-to-make-a-dna-model.pdf

Create a lesson teaching someone else about heredity. Save the presentation to your personal digital file.

Slide 18