Introduction to Genetics Heredity….

Gregor Mendel Austrian Monk --Discovered a “pattern” while working in the garden PEAS have “traits” or characteristics --color of flower --color of seed --height of plant

Mendel’s Experiment OVERVIEW Pure Red Flower x Pure White Flower All red flowers Red flower x Red Flower 3 Red Flowers 1 White Flower Generation 1 Generation 2

Pea Plant Experiment

Realization from MENDEL *The offspring must “get genetic information” from the parents…. ½ from mom ½ from dad This genetic information is “DNA”. Sections of your DNA are called “GENES”, the instructions for specific traits…..(such as code for color of the pea flower)

GENES Now, there can be “variations” of a gene. --Red or white flower pea plants These “variations” are called ALLELES. To represent these variations (alleles), we will use LETTERS. DOMINANTRECESSIVE A trait that seems to “overtake” another trait A trait that seems to “hide” and then suddenly appear in a generation. Capital letters to represent the ALLELES Lower case letters to represent the ALLELES Red = RWhite = r

Pea Plant Experiment RRRrrr

RRrrrRrRr

Additional Vocabulary Genotype is the combination of “alleles or genes” RR Rr rr Phenotype is the “physical descriptions of trait” Red flower White flower

Check for understanding…. What would be the possible genotype for a red flower? What would be the possible phenotype for Rr? RR or Rr Red flower

Gather information from your parents…. You need to collect some information from your parents and siblings (as well as yourself). Use the next part to help you collect your data….

Traits….

Traits…

Huber’s Family TraitsJeffTerraTy Forelock (aka widow’s peak) No forelock Dimples (cleft chin)NoYes ThumbStraight PinkyStraightBent Mid-Digit hairYesNo 2 nd ToeShorterLonger Tongue RollingCan roll ??