Heredity is the passing of traits from parents to offspring.

Offspring are the new organisms produced by one or more parents Offspring are the new organisms produced by one or more parents. (children, babies, young)

The study of heredity in biology is called genetics.

The Father of Genetics Gregor Mendel was an Austrian monk who studied mathematics and science but became a gardener in a monastery.    

Mendel thought there might be a connection between the color of a pea plant flower and the type of seed the plant produced. He began to experiment with garden peas in 1856. Mendel made careful use of experimental design to study pea plants and had the first recorded study of how traits pass from one generation to the next.

Genetic Material

Nucleus contains the genetic material.

Inside the nucleus are chromosomes.

Chromosomes are made up of genes.

Genes are made up of DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)

DNA is made up of Nitrogen bases, phosphate and sugars Nitrogenous Base (A,T,G or C) “Rungs of ladder” “Legs of ladder” Phosphate & Sugar Backbone

A HISTORY OF DNA Discovery of the DNA double helix A. Frederick Griffith – Discovers that a factor in diseased bacteria can transform harmless bacteria into deadly bacteria (1928) B. Rosalind Franklin - X-ray photo of DNA. (1952) C. Watson and Crick - described the DNA molecule from Franklin’s X-ray. (1953)

The function of genetic material is to determine characteristics of living things. It is passed from parent to offspring. The structures found in genetic material are as follows: Base pairs make up the DNA, DNA make up the genes , genes make up the chromosomes and chromosomes are found in the nucleus of cell.