Genetics (11/14-11/18)

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Summary:

This week we were learning about genetics. Genetics is the study of inherited characteristics and heredity. 

Link

DNA

DNA holds the instructions needed for a living organism to grow and live. DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid. The DNA alphabet is ACGT. (Guanine, Cytosine, Adenine and Thymine.) The special rules by which these alphabet pieces bond together are that A only goes with T, and C only goes with G.

Genes

Genes are the basic units of inheritance. They are the instruction manuals for the body. The directions for building proteins to function. Genes are made of chunks of DNA. Humans have 25,000 genes. Proteins contain these instructions for building. Genes tell the body three important things:
  1. How long the protein should be.
  2. How much protein to make.
  3. Exactly when to make it.

Chromosomes

A chromosome is a package for DNA. In other words, chromosomes are long strands of DNA wrapped around proteins called histones. Chromosomes contain many genes, along with long strands of DNA whose purpose is not yet discovered. A human cell holds 46 chromosomes. 23 chromosomes from each parent. Chromosomes are labeled like this: boys have X Y chromosomes and girls have X X chromosomes. 

Proteins

Proteins are the body's basic building blocks. Ribosomes are responsible for making these proteins. Genes provide the "blueprint" for making a protein. One cell contains thousands of proteins. Since proteins are too small to see, scientists use computer programs to model proteins structure and function.

Heredity

Heredity is the passing of traits from parent to child. Children may look similar to their parents because of these traits, but they will not look exactly identical to one parent because there are 23 chromosomes (one complete set) from each parent. Every child has a complete set of 42 chromosomes, but these chromosomes are not always the same, and in the same order.

Traits

A trait is a notable feature or quality in a person. Every person has a different combination of traits that makes us unique. An allele is the set of genetic information that codes for different variations of the same trait. One trait is passed from each parent. For example, if you get a H from your mom, and an h from your dad, then you have heterozygous traits. These traits are randomly chosen.

Homozygous - Having two of the same alleles for a trait.

Heterozygous - Having two different alleles for each trait.

There are three different types of traits:
  1. Physical traits (eye color, hair color, height)
  2. Behavioral traits (the way you act or behave)
  3. Predisposition to a medical condition (risk to a medical need or problem.)

SP2: Developing and using models

This week we started making our model of how each vocabulary word (traits, heredity, proteins, chromosomes, genes, DNA, and more) connects to each other and what each thing does. This model helps us to visualize what each vocabulary word does and how each connects to genetics.

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