1. Investigating Human Traits
Inheritance
Investigating Human Traits

2. Investigating Human Traits
Key Question: What do we inherit from our parents? Initial Thoughts:

3. Evidence 1: Notes
Has anyone ever told you that you have your mother’s or father’s eyes?
Or have you ever wondered why the children in a certain family look so similar?
These similarities not only occur in people, but in plants and animals as well.
This is called HEREDITY.

4. Heredity
Heredity is the process of passing on traits from parents to offspring.
These are called inherited traits.

5. What are Traits? Characteristic vs. Trait
Characteristic - i.e. Eye Color
Trait - different versions of a characteristic; i.e. brown, blue, green
How much variation is shown in our class?

6. Inherited Traits vs Acquired Traits
Inherited Traits: traits you are born with.
Acquired Traits: skills that you have learned over time.

7. Evidence 2: Inventory of Traits
Detached earlobes
Cleft chin
Tongue rolling
Allergies
Dimples
Left thumb over right
Right-handed
Color Blindness
Freckles
Widow’s peak
Curly Hair

8. Trait: Not Attached vs. Attached Earlobes

9. Trait: Tongue Rolling

10. Trait: Dimples

11. Trait: Right-Handed

12. Trait: Freckles

13. Trait: Curly Hair

14. Trait: Cleft Chin

15. Trait: Allergies

16. Trait: Thumb Position

17. Trait: Sees colors red and green

18. Trait: Widow’s Peak or Straight
No peak!

19. Trait Survey Complete the Inventory of My Traits Survey.
Complete the An Inventory of My Traits – Data Chart
Complete the Inventory of My Traits - Graph

20. Human Traits
Number of People
Traits

21. Misconceptions
Many people think that dominant traits are more common than recessive traits.
A dominant trait is not necessarily more common.
A recessive trait is not necessarily rarer.

22. Analysis Questions What is the conclusion of your graph?
What would happen if you were able to ask more people?
List your individual traits.

23. Summary
What did you think about the variation of human traits before this lesson?
What does your evidence show you that you learned about the variation of human traits?
What are some thoughts or questions you have about human traits?

24. Reflection
Create an analogy for characteristics and traits.

25. Big Idea
We inherit genes from our parents which result in us having different traits.