Genetics+&+Change


 * __ YOU AND HEREDITY - YOUR CHARACTERISTICS __**

Heredity is the passing on of characteristics or traits from one generation to the next. In order to better understand the processes involved we should have an idea of what characteristics are and how they may relate to siblings, parents and ourselves.

Complete the activities below to gain some understanding of characteristics.

A. A Personal Data Card about your own characteristics. ** ____ **

B. Survey of the Common characteristics in a group of individuals (your classmates) and submit for **__ Assessment __** **__ __**

**__ GENETICS BASICS - CHROMOSOMES, GENES, ALLELES AND DOMINANCE __**

A study of Genetics requires a basic knowledge of the structures involved in the process of passing traits from generation to generation. The structures you will have to be familiar with are the cell, cell nucleus and genes (including what base pairs and genes are). Genes are like a list of instructions for how a living thing grows, develops and carries out its life processes. But these instructions are not written down as words on paper. They are in the form of a chemical substance called DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). This is also known as the genetic material.

You can find out about these basic structures by visiting the [|Tour of the Basics]site and completing the Webquest at the link below.

Chromosomes are the threadlike structures, located in the cells nucleus. They contain the genetic material, in the form of DNA. In Humans there are 46 chromosomes and they form 22 Autosomal pairs and a pair of sex chromosomes, making up 23 pairs. To reinforce your knowledge of Chromosome pairing complete and submit the chromosome pairing activity for **__ Assessment __**. [|Chromosome matching.doc]

Using the information provided, on the way in which characteristics in the form of alleles from each parent are passed on, complete the 'Making a Child' worksheet for three sets of eggs and sperm. When this is completed enter a phenotype description of your three children as a reply to the 'Making a Child' topic under the Discussion tab above

**__ __**  **__ KARYOTYPING AND PEDIGREES __** Karyotyping is the process of looking at the genetic information being passed from each parent to predict what features will appear in the offspring. When we do this we often use a special grid called a punnet square to work out the possible combinations of traits possible from the parents. The following document contains an outline of the first experiments at cross breeding pea plants to find out how characteristics are passed on. Read it carefully then attempt the worksheet on Karyotyping. **__  __**

[|Learn about producing a Punnett square online]

Harry Potter and his family Genetics

Complete the **__ Assessment __** sheet here and submit for marking ** ____ **

Complete the **__ Assessment __** questions on the following document and complete with a partner, then submit for marking. Show all working out

__ GENETIC DISEASES __ ** One of the major reasons given for the study of Genetics is that an understanding of the mechanisms for Heredity allow us to test for and ultimately maybe treat individuals who have diseases which result from faulty genes.

Your **__ Assessment __** task here is to investigate a disease which is Genetic in origin. That is, a disease which results from a particular faulty gene being passed from parents to child or a disease resulting from an error occuring during the process of passing on genetic material. You may choose any disease but must show how the genetics works using punnett squares and explanation.

As a guide you should look at factors such as the symptoms, show how it is inherited (Punnet square and explanation), diagnosis/screening, treatments and research into cures or prevention

[|List of Genetic Diseases from Wikipaedia] Remember to include a bibliography and a planning sheet (Inspiration 8) for your report.

** MORAL ISSUES AND GENETICS **

Genetics - the study of heredity - and in particular the ability of scientists to manipulate the genetic code which determines the make up of each and every organism is an area full of controversy. Only recently a test was released which allows the gender of a child to be determined much earlier than conventional methods. Could this lead to the aborting of children of an unwanted gender based on the preference of the parents? In this moral?

There are many issues related to this field of study. Below are four articles with discussion activities included. Select two, complete and submit. You will be required to know one of these well for discussion in your mid year exam. **__Assessment__**



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