Learning Intention

• Heredity is a biological process where a parent transmits certain

genes onto their offspring. We will determine the process of
inheritance of traits with reference to simple terms related to
genetics.
Success Criteria
• Define scientific terms with reference to Genetics
• Create a Punnett Square and Apply the Punnett Square rule to
predict the ratio of offspring.
• Recognise that the variation between individuals within a species
could be continuous or discontinuous with examples.
Chromosomes
Each chromosome is a single very long
molecule of DNA which is coiled and tightly
packed. This allows every nucleus of human
cells to contain about 2m of DNA. Humans
have 46 (23 pairs) of chromosomes in every
nucleus (stretched out, the DNA from one
human would span to the moon and back
about 400,000 times!).
Genes
A gene is a section of DNA that carries the
code for a particular protein. Each gene tells
the cell to make a particular protein and so
controls the development of a particular
characteristic of an organism. Many genes are
needed to carry all the genetic information
for a whole organism
DNA
DNA (deoxyribose nucleic
acid) molecules are large
and complex. They carry
the genetic code that tell
the cell what proteins to
make, and so determines
the characteristics of a
living thing.
• There are different versions of genes for each
characteristic, e.g. there is a gene for brown
hair, a gene for blonde hair, a gene for red
hair.
• The different alternative forms of the genes
are called ALLELES.
• We all inherit genes from our parents, these
alleles are responsible for the features we
inherit.
• Some alleles are DOMINANT, this means if you
inherit them you will display that feature.

• Some alleles are RECESSIVE, you will only

display this feature if you do not inherit another
dominant allele.
• If a person has inherited two of the SAME genes
from their parents, then they are HOMOZYGOUS
for that characteristic.

e.g. If a person inherits two blue genes for eye

colour their eye colour is homozygous blue.

• If a person inherits two DIFFERENT genes from

their parents, then they are HETEROZYGOUS for
that characteristic.

e.g. IF a person inherits a blue gene and a brown

gene for eye colour, their eye colour is
heterozygous brown.
Question: Why is their eye colour brown and not
blue?
• The combination of genes that a person
inherits is called their GENOTYPE.

• The physical characteristic that the gene combination displays is

called the PHENOTYPE.

Phenotype = black hair

Genotype = genes for black hair and

brown hair.
HOW TO WRITE THE ALLELES AND GENOTYPES ?
• In a given situation genotypes and alleles can be
written based on the phenotype.
• For example: Tall is dominant over dwarf plant
Allele for tall is - T, allele for dwarf is – t
(The first alphabet of the dominant feature to be
written in capital for dominant allele, corresponding
small alphabet to be written for recessive allele. NO
OTHER ALPHABET SHOULD BE USED FOR WRITING
THE GENOTYPES)
HOW TO WRITE THE ALLELES AND GENOTYPES ?
• For example
• Homozygous dominant: TT
• Homozygous recessive: tt
• Heterozygous : Tt / tT
• Heterozygous always show dominant
phenotype
PUNNETT SQUARE
• The Punnett square is a diagram that is used to
predict an outcome of a particular cross or breeding
experiment.
• It shows the phenotypes and genotypes of offsprings
produced in a genetic cross. It is used to find out the
phenotypic and genotypic ratios also.
PUNNETT SQUARE
• In pea plants, tall plants are dominant
over dwarf plants. Show the results of a
cross between homozygous dominant
tall plant with homozygous recessive
dwarf plant with the help of a punnett
square
Inheritance of
Characteristics
White
and Pink
pea plant
bred
together

All the offspring (First generation) are

Pink
Punnet squares
- This 1st generation occurred because the white flower is
recessive and the pink one dominant.
- In the first generation both parent flowers are homozygous.
- Homozygous dominant= PP
- Homozygous recessive= pp

Task: Draw a punnet square to show the first generation cross.

Extra challenge: What are the phenotypes and what are the
genotypes?
Inheritance of
Characteristics
2 pink pea
plants from
the first
generation
crossed

The offspring (2nd generation) are pink and

white. Mendel wondered how white flowers could
disappear for a generation but then come back
Punnet squares
- This 2nd generation occurred because offspring in the 1st
generation are both heterozygous (1 pink allele and 1 white)
- Heterozygous = Pp

Task: Draw a punnet square to show the second generation

cross.

Extra challenge: Explain why the white flower reappears in

the second generation
P P
p p

P p
P PP Pp
p Pp pp