Are some forms of a trait more common than others? What can you conclude about the way traits vary among your class members? Why do you think some students show some traits while others do not?

….find out how weird and strange your class is… Human traits database

Scientific Discovery …ya…sometimes weird.

Learn the Lingo Gene(s) A section of DNA on a chromosome that “codes” a particular protein….leading to the expression of a trait. Allele One or more forms of a gene (found on the same part of a chromosome) Homozygous A gene with the same alleles both chromosomes. Ex: aa or AA Heterozygous A gene with different alleles on both chromosomes. Ex: Aa

Learn the Lingo…cont Dominant The expression of an allele that “overpowers” the other expression. Typically recorded as a capital letter. Ex: A Recessive The expression of an allele that does not take importance. Will only be expressed when homozygous recessive. Ex: aa Typically recorded as a lower-case letter. Ex: a

“Father of Genetics” Gregor Mendel Cool Scientific Connections!! Austrian monk Born in 1822 Gardener Studied pea plants by selective breeding. Was able to determine that a code exists to determine visible and invisible traits in offspring. Cool Scientific Connections!! Studied university with Christian Doppler (of “the Doppler effect”) Also studied honeybee genetics Favourite Food  peas “Father of Genetics”

How Mendel’s pea plants helped us understand genetics

Punnett Square Practice