1. Chapter 9 Fundamentals of Genetics

2. Read the article and answer the questions. Fill in your definition sheet.

3. Who am I?

4. Gregor Mendel – father of genetics

5. Traits: specific characteristics that vary from individual to individual Genetics: the scientific study of heredity Heredity: Passing of traits from generation to generation.

6. Remember: Genes not Jeans

7. Gene Segment of DNA that carries the instructions for making traits

8. Alleles Alleles: different forms of a trait (we will use letters to represent the different forms) Alleles: different forms of a trait (we will use letters to represent the different forms) Trait: Hair color Trait: Hair color Alleles would be: Alleles would be: – Blonde (b) – Brown (B) Genotype » Bb » BB » Bb Homologous pair of chromosomes.

9. Dominant trait: the trait observed when at least one dominant allele for a characteristic is inherited (BB) Recessive trait: a trait that appears only when 2 recessive alleles for the same characteristic are inherited (bb)

10. Time to explore your traits!