1. What are traits? Physical Traits Acquired Traits Behavioral Traits
Can be seen by others
Eye color, hair color, height, left handed
Acquired Traits
Learned skills
Playing a sport, riding a bike, playing a musical instrument
Behavioral Traits
Instinctual actions
Nest building and migration

2. Allele
An allele is an alternative form of a gene that is located at a specific position on a specific chromosome.
A,a,B,b ….
Genotype
The particular alleles (genes) an individual carries
They are inherited from your biological parents
Genes control your traits
Example: Aa or aa

3. Phenotype An individual’s observable traits
What people can SEE when they look at you
Example: Curly hair

4. An individual with non-identical alleles of a gene is heterozygous for that gene
Examples: Bb, Tt, Aa
An individual with identical alleles of a gene is homozygous for that gene
Examples: BB or bb, TT or tt

5. An allele is dominant if its effect masks the effect of a recessive allele paired with it
Capital letters (A) signify dominant alleles; lowercase letters (a) signify recessive alleles
Homozygous dominant (AA)
Homozygous recessive (aa)
Heterozygous (Aa)

6. Inherited Traits

7. Right (RR, Rr) or Left (rr) handed?

8. Freckles (FF, Ff) No Freckles (ff)

9. Curly (HH, Hh) or Straight (hh)

10. Acquired Traits

11. Riding a bike

12. Reading

13. Walking