Name(s):______Date: ______Hour: ____
Basic Genetics Web Quest
Genetics Tour:
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/tour/
Click on “What is Heredity?”
1. Why do children look like their parents?
2. The passing of ______is the basis of heredity.
3. Other than genes, what is the other major factor that helps define our traits?
4. What is a zygote? Draw the illustration.
5. When looking at the “First Baby’s Possible Chromosomes” and the “Second Baby’s Possible Chromosomes” from their parents, determine if the babies are identical or fraternal twins. How do you know?
Click on “What is a Trait?”
1. What is a trait?
2. What is the difference between a physical trait and a behavioral trait?
3. What are some diseases that can be passed down as genetic traits? List 5 or more.
4. When thinking about the risk of developing heart disease, what can be influenced by genetics? What is influenced by behavior?
5. Will people that have the genotype “Hh” have two straight thumbs, two hitchhiker’s thumbs or one of each?
6. The flower’s petals are influenced by a principle called ______
Click on “What is DNA?”
1. Instructions providing all the information necessary for a living organism to grow and live reside in the ______of every cell.
2. What do these instructions look like?
3. Explain how only 4 letters can tell the cell what to do.
4. The DNA strand is made of letters, the letters make words, and the words make sentences. These sentences are called ______.
5. Genes tell the cell to make other molecules called ______, which enable a cell to______.
Click on “What is a Gene?”
1. What is a gene?
2. Approximately how many genes are encoded in the DNA of humans?
3. ______is a genetic disease that results in the mutation of hemoglobin protein within our red blood cells.
4. Other than providing instructions for building a hemoglobin molecule, what are two other examples of traits that are controlled by genes?
Click on “What is a Protein?”
1. What is a protein?
2. If our body is compared to a car engine, why can proteins be compared to the parts of the engine?
3. What role do proteins play in sending a pain signal? Explain.
4. ______proteins allow a cell to keep its shape.
5. Where within the cell are proteins made?
6. Explain how a cell makes a certain protein (protein synthesis).
Click on “What is a Chromosome?”
1. What is a chromosome?
2. Look at the set of human chromosomes displayed on the slideshow. Is this set of chromosomes from a male or female? How do you know?
3. Humans have 46 chromosomes. Mosquitoes have _____. Onions have _____. Carp have _____.