Chapter 4 - Inherited Traits

Question 1

Heredity

Answer 1

The transfer of traits from one generation to another generation.

Question 2

Gregor Mendel

Answer 2

The father of modern genetics; discovered the basic principals of heredity through experiments with pea plants

Question 3

Inherited Traits

Answer 3

Characteristics or features of one organism that are inherited (passed from parent to offspring)

Question 4

Inherited traits examples in humans

Answer 4

freckles, hair color, dimples

Question 5

Inherited traits examples in animals

Answer 5

eye/hair color, hair texture, face shape

Question 6

Inherited traits examples in plants

Answer 6

leaf shape, plant height, flower color

Question 7

Dominant traits

Answer 7

Traits that hide other traits when passed on to offspring; shows its specific trait, even if only one parent passes the gene; when child inherits dominant brown hair gene the child will have brown hair.

Question 8

Recessive Traits

Answer 8

Traits that get hidden by dominant traits; shows its specific trait when both parents pass the gene to offspring; when child inherits recessive blue eye gene from both parents the child will have blue eyes.

Question 9

How traits are passed

Answer 9

When organisms reproduce, traits are passed from parent to offspring; it all begins in the organism’s cells; cells are the basic building blocks of all living things; cells contain the body’s hereditary material and can make copies of themselves.

Question 10

Nucleus

Answer 10

Small egg-shaped structure inside the cell; acts like the brain of the cell; it contains chromosomes and genes; stores the cells hereditary material or DNA.

Question 11

Chromosomes

Answer 11

Thread-like structures found in the nucleus of a cell that contains all DNA; Each chromosome is made of protein and a single molecule of DNA; comes in sets of two (or pairs); human cell nucleus contains 46 chromosomes or 23 pairs; half of these chromosomes come from one parent and half come from the other parent.

Question 12

DNA

Answer 12

Molecule that carries the genetic instructions for all living organisms; short for deoxyribonucleic acid; contains the specific instructions that make each type of living creature unique; determines how the cells in a body function

Question 13

Genes

Answer 13

Determine traits; a stretch of DNA on a chromosome with instructions for one trait; chromosomes come in pairs; each parent has two copies of each gene; each parent passes along one copy to make up the genes of the offspring; cell contains the nucleus; nucleus contains the chromosomes; chromosomes contains all the DNA; DNA contains the genes

Question 14

Acquired traits

Answer 14

Not passed down to offspring genetically; is a learned trait; is a product of the environment’s influence on the organism