Genetics Online Scavenger Hunt

Part 1: Tour of the Basics

Directions:

  1. SelectTour of the Basicsand then click on each of the followingtabs.
  • What is DNA?
  • What is a Gene?
  • What is a Chromosome?
  • What is a protein?
  • What is Heredity?
  • What is a Trait?
  1. As you go from one tutorial to the next answer the corresponding questions for each topic.

What is DNA?

  1. The instructions that provide all the information necessary for living organisms to grow and live are located in the ______.
  1. The instructions come in the form of a molecule called ______.
  1. What do the letters in DNA stand for? ______
  1. What is the name given for the twisted ladder shape of the DNA molecule?

______

What is a Gene?

  1. What is a gene?
  1. What makes up a gene?
  1. The name of the protein that red blood cells use to capture and carry oxygen in our bodies is called ______.
  2. A disorder that can occur if a mutation occurs in the DNA to change the instructions for making the hemoglobin molecule is called______.

What is a Chromosome?

  1. How long would your DNA be if it were stretched out? ______
  1. DNA is packaged in units called______.
  2. How many chromosomes do humans have?______
  1. How many pairs of chromosomes do humans have?______
  1. Which chromosomes determine whether you are male or female? ______

What is a Protein?

  1. Each gene in the DNA molecule encodes information about how to make individual ______.
  1. The protein-making machinery, the ______produce a ______based on the DNA instructions.

What is Heredity?

  1. Our ______encode the instructions that define our traits.
  1. How do we get traits from our parents?

Whatare Traits?

  1. What is a trait?
  1. What are physical traits?
  1. What are behavioral traits?

Part 2: Heredity and Traits

How Do Scientists Read Chromosomes?

  1. What are the three key features that scientists use to identify similarities and differences on chromosomes?

a.

b.

c.

  1. For what process are centromeres required?
  1. Centromeres are attached to microtubules (spindle fibers), which are proteins that can pull chromosomes toward ______ends of each cell before the cell divides.
  2. This ensures that each daughter cell will have a full set of ______.

Making Karyotype

  1. What is a karyotype?
  1. How are chromosomes arranged and numbered in a karyotype?

by ______, from ______to______.

  1. This arrangement helps scientists quickly identify chromosomal alterations that may result in a ______.
  2. List the three steps scientists use to make a karyotype.

a.

b.

c.

Using Karyotypes to Predict Genetic Disorders

List the three typical differences found in karyotypes.

  1. Too many or too ______chromosomes

Part 3:Chromosomal Abnormalities

  1. Go to:
  2. Click on each of the genetic disorders to find the information on the chart.

Genetic Disorder / Cause / Characteristics of Disorder
  1. Down Syndrome
/ Mental retardation
Eyes slant upward
Heart defects
  1. Turner Syndrome
/ Girls have only one x chromosome
  1. Klinefelter Syndrome

  1. Cri du Chat Syndrome

  1. Williams Syndrome

1