🧬 Topic Summary
Inherited characteristics are traits passed down from parents to offspring through genes. These genes contain the instructions for building and operating our bodies. Heredity is the passing of these traits, influencing everything from eye color to susceptibility to certain diseases. Understanding heredity helps us predict patterns of inheritance and learn more about what makes each of us unique.
🧠 Part A: Vocabulary
Match the terms with their definitions:
- Term: Gene
- Term: Allele
- Term: Genotype
- Term: Phenotype
- Term: Heredity
- Definition: The set of genes responsible for a particular trait.
- Definition: The passing of traits from parents to offspring.
- Definition: The observable characteristics or traits of an organism.
- Definition: A unit of heredity that is transferred from a parent to offspring and determines some characteristic of the offspring.
- Definition: One of two or more alternative forms of a gene that arise by mutation and are found at the same place on a chromosome.
🧪 Part B: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the paragraph with the correct words:
Words: chromosomes, dominant, recessive, traits, Punnett Square
_________ are characteristics passed from parents to offspring. These are determined by genes found on _________. A _________ trait will always be expressed if present, while a _________ trait will only be expressed if two copies are present. A _________ can be used to predict the possible genotypes and phenotypes of offspring.
🤔 Part C: Critical Thinking
If a plant has a genotype of $Pp$ for flower color, where $P$ is dominant for purple flowers and $p$ is recessive for white flowers, what color will the plant's flowers be? Explain your reasoning.