Heredity and Genetics Heredity and Genetics OverviewOverview

DNA

What is Heredity?What is Heredity? HeredityHeredity is the passing on of traits or characteristics is the passing on of traits or characteristics

from one generation to the next. from one generation to the next. It is the reason why offspring look like their parents. It is the reason why offspring look like their parents. It also explains why cats always give birth to kittens It also explains why cats always give birth to kittens

and never puppies. and never puppies.

The process of heredity occurs among The process of heredity occurs among all living things including animals, all living things including animals, plants, bacteria, protists and fungi.plants, bacteria, protists and fungi.

What is Genetics?What is Genetics? The study of heredity is called The study of heredity is called

genetics,genetics, and scientists that study and scientists that study heredity are called heredity are called geneticists.geneticists.

What are Traits?What are Traits? Through heredity, living things inherit Through heredity, living things inherit traitstraits

from their parents. from their parents. Traits are physical characteristics. Traits are physical characteristics. You resemble your parents because you You resemble your parents because you

inherited your hair and skin color, nose shape, inherited your hair and skin color, nose shape, height, and other traits from them.height, and other traits from them.

What are Acquired TraitsWhat are Acquired Traits

Living things can also Living things can also acquire traits. acquire traits.

Acquired traits cannot be Acquired traits cannot be passed on genetically passed on genetically from parents to offspring. from parents to offspring.

Acquired traits include Acquired traits include things like calluses on things like calluses on fingers, larger muscles fingers, larger muscles from exercise, scars, from exercise, scars, pierced ears, missing pierced ears, missing teeth, the ability to read, teeth, the ability to read, or use tools to build a or use tools to build a house.house.

How do you Inherit Traits?How do you Inherit Traits? CellsCells are the basic are the basic

unit of structure unit of structure and function of all and function of all living things. living things.

Tiny structures Tiny structures inside each cell inside each cell called called genes genes carry carry traits, like hair traits, like hair color, from one color, from one generation to the generation to the next. next.

What are Chromosomes?What are Chromosomes?

Genes are made Genes are made of a chemical of a chemical called called DNA DNA (deoxyribonucleic (deoxyribonucleic acid). acid).

Genes are strung Genes are strung together to form together to form long chains of long chains of DNA in structures DNA in structures called called chromosomes.chromosomes.

What are Genes?What are Genes?

Genes are like Genes are like blueprints for blueprints for building a house, building a house, except that they except that they carry the plans for carry the plans for building cells, building cells, tissues, organs, and tissues, organs, and bodies. bodies.

They have the They have the instructions for instructions for making us the way making us the way we are.we are.

Differences in genes cause individuals Differences in genes cause individuals to have different inherited traits such as to have different inherited traits such as eye color, hair color or blood types.eye color, hair color or blood types.

How do Genes How do Genes Work?Work?

A gene gives the A gene gives the possibility for the possibility for the development of a trait, development of a trait, depending on how the depending on how the gene interacts with gene interacts with other genes, and how other genes, and how the environment the environment interacts with the gene. interacts with the gene.

For example, a person For example, a person may have a genetic may have a genetic tendency toward being tendency toward being overweight, but the overweight, but the person's actual weight person's actual weight will depend on will depend on environmental factors environmental factors like the amount and like the amount and kinds of food the person kinds of food the person eats and how much eats and how much exercise the person exercise the person gets. gets.