Supplemental

Worksheets
 Name Date Class

Quick Vocabulary
Lesson 1 Lesson 2
gene section of DNA that has genetic adaptation inherited trait that
information for one trait helps a species survive in
its environment
genotype organism’s complete set of
genes camouflage adaptation that helps a
species blend in with its natural
inheritance passing of traits from
surroundings
generation to generation
mimicry adaptation in which one
mutation permanent change in the
species looks like another species
sequence of DNA in a gene
natural selection process by which
phenotype how a trait appears or is
organisms with variations that help
expressed
them survive in their environment
population all the members of a live longer, compete better, and
species living in a given area reproduce more than those that do
not have the variation
random without a definite aim, rule,
or method selective breeding selection and
breeding of organisms with desired
trait distinguishing characteristic of
traits
an organism
Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

species group of organisms that

share similar characteristics and
can reproduce among themselves,
producing fertile offspring

variation slight difference in

inherited traits among individual
members of a species

Inheritance and Adaptations 3

Name Date Class

Lesson Outline LESSON 1

Inheritance and Traits

A. What is inheritance?
1. A(n) is a distinguishing characteristic of an organism.
2. The passing of traits from generation to generation is
called .
3. A trait that an organism acquires or develops during its lifetime is called
a(n) trait.
B. Inheritance and DNA
1. Amoebas, bacteria, and some plants pass traits to their offspring by cell division
and mitosis, a process called reproduction.
2. reproduction results in offspring that are identical to
the original organism.
3. reproduction produces offspring that are similar to but
not identical to the parent or parents.
4. Sexual reproduction requires DNA from a(n) cell and
an egg cell.
5. DNA is a molecule inside a cell’s that looks like a twisted

Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

zipper.
a. A section of DNA that has genetic information for one trait is called
a(n) .
b. A(n) is a structure made of long chains of DNA.
6. In most species, come in pairs.
a. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes in each cell.
b. Human sperm and eggs, or cells, each contain
23 single chromosomes.
C. Combining Genes
1. During sexual reproduction, an egg cell and a(n) cell
each contribute one gene for a trait.
2. Each gene for a single trait is called a(n) .

10 Inheritance and Adaptations

 Name Date Class

Lesson Outline continued

3. The process in which sperm and egg cells form is called .

a. During meiosis, the chromosomes in existing egg and sperm cells
and divide.
b. Meiosis results in separate cells, each with half the
number of chromosomes the original cells had.
4. During , egg cell chromosomes and the sperm cell
chromosomes combine to form an offspring with a full set of paired chromosomes.
5. Each resulting from sexual reproduction is unique
because each sperm cell and egg cell is unique.
D. Influencing Traits
1. An organism’s is its complete set of genes.
2. The traits expressed by the genotype can be influenced by an
organism’s .
3. How a trait appears, or is expressed, is called the trait’s .
a. Phenotypes result from the interaction between an organism’s
and its environment.
b. Nutrients can cause dramatic changes in the of plants
Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

and animals.
c. An organism’s group also can affect color, body
structure, or behavior.
4. A change in phenotype in response to environment does not affect an organism’s
genes and the change is not passed on to future .
5. A permanent change in the sequence of DNA in a gene is called
a(n) .
a. A mutation in a gene can change the for which the
gene holds information.
b. All genes can mutate, but only mutated genes in egg or
cells can be .
6. Many mutations do not help or an organism.
7. Mutations that change an organism’s genes so much that they can affect an
organism’s ability to in its environment can be harmful
or helpful.

Inheritance and Adaptations 11

 Name Date Class

Content Practice A LESSON 1

Inheritance and Traits

Directions: Complete the crossword puzzle with the correct terms from the word bank.

gene genotype inheritance

mutation phenotype trait

1 2

3 4

6
Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Across Down
1. a distinguishing characteristic of an 2. the passing of traits from generation to
organism generation
5. a section of DNA that has genetic 3. an organism’s complete set of genes
information for one trait
4. how a trait appears or how it is
6. a permanent change in the sequence of expressed
DNA in a gene

Inheritance and Adaptations 13

Name Date Class

Content Practice B LESSON 1

Inheritance and Traits

Directions: On the line before each trait, write I if the trait describes an inherited trait or A if the trait describes
an acquired trait.

1. color of wings

2. length of hair

3. color of eyes

4. shape of nose

5. loss of limb

6. shape of scar

Directions: Circle the term in parentheses that correctly completes each sentence.

7. Sperm and eggs are human (body/reproductive) cells.

8. Each human sperm and egg contains (23/46) chromosomes.

9. (Mutation/Meiosis) is the process during which sperm and egg cells form.

Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

10. During (meiosis/fertilization), a sperm and an egg unite.

11. Because each sperm cell and egg cell is (unique/similar), the resulting offspring also is
(unique/similar).

12. In humans, there are (many/few) potential gene arrangements from the union of sperm
and egg chromosomes.

14 Inheritance and Adaptations

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Math Skills LESSON 1

Use Probability
Genes are chemical codes that carry information about how an organism grows and functions.
The genes in a cell are grouped into larger molecules called chromosomes. A body cell
contains two different versions of each chromosome. Many animals and plants pass genes
to their offspring by sexual reproduction. During sexual reproduction, the chromosomes are
duplicated and then divided into egg or sperm cells. An egg or sperm cell contains a single
version of each chromosome.
The possible number of unique combinations of chromosomes in an egg or sperm cell
depends on the number of chromosomes in the organism. The formula 2n predicts the
number of chromosome combinations, where n is the total number of chromosomes
divided by two.
The expression 2n is a short way to write repeated multiplication of a number by itself. The
base is the number, 2, and the exponent is the raised number, n. The exponent shows the
number of times you multiply the base by itself. You might need to use a calculator to solve
the problems.
A pea plant has 14 chromosomes. How many different combinations of chromosomes can
be produced in the offspring?

Step 1 Divide the number of chromosomes by 2.

14 chromosomes
______________ =7
Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Step 2 Substitute for n in the expression 2n.

2n = 27 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 128

Practice
1. A mosquito has 6 chromosomes. 3. A human has 46 chromosomes.
How many different chromosome How many different chromosome
combinations can form in the offspring? combinations can form in the offspring?

2. Corn has 20 chromosomes. How many 4. A capuchin monkey has

different chromosome combinations 54 chromosomes. How many different
can form in the offspring? chromosome combinations can form
in the offspring?

Inheritance and Adaptations 15

 Name Date Class

Key Concept Builder LESSON 1

Inheritance and Traits

Key Concept What is inheritance?

Directions: Answer each question or respond to each statement in the space provided.

Question Answer
1. What is a trait?

2. What is inheritance?

3. Inheritance occurs during which process?

Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

4. What are inherited traits?

5. Give an example of an inherited trait.

6. What are acquired traits?

7. Give an example of an acquired trait.

Inheritance and Adaptations 17

Name Date Class

Key Concept Builder LESSON 1

Inheritance and Traits

Key Concept What is the role of genes in inheritance?

Directions: Label this diagram by writing the correct term from the word bank on each line.

cell nucleus chromosome DNA strands gene

1.
3.

2.

4.

Directions: Answer each question or respond to each statement on the lines provided.

5. How are genes related to DNA?

Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

6. What is the role of genes in inheritance?

7. Describe the two ways in which organisms pass inherited traits to their offspring.

18 Inheritance and Adaptations

 Name Date Class

Key Concept Builder LESSON 1

Inheritance and Traits

Key Concept How do environmental factors influence traits?

Directions: On each line, write the term from the word bank that correctly completes each sentence. Some terms
will be used more than once.

environment genotype nutrients phenotype

physical factors social factors social group social phase
solitary phase

1. An organism’s complete set of genes is its .

2. The of a trait is how the trait appears or how it is expressed.

3. A(n) is unchanged throughout an organism’s life.

4. A(n) can change throughout an organism’s life.

5. Phenotypes result from the interactions of an organism’s genes and

Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

its .

6. Light, temperature, and moisture are that can influence

an organism’s phenotype.

7. Flamingos are born white, but they turn pink because of the food they eat; this is an
example of how , a physical factor, can affect phenotypes.

8. can also affect an organism’s color, body structure, or

behavior.

9. The size of a desert locust’s can affect its phenotype.

10. The desert locust is green in its .

11. The desert locust is yellowish-brown in its .

Inheritance and Adaptations 19

Name Date Class

Key Concept Builder LESSON 1

Inheritance and Traits

Key Concept How do mutations influence traits?

Directions: On the line before each statement, write T if the statement is true or F if the statement is false. If the
statement is false, change the underlined word(s) to make it true. Write your changes on the lines provided.

1. When an organism’s genotype changes in response to its environment, the

organism’s genes are not affected and the change can be passed on to the next
generation.

2. A mutation is a temporary change in the sequence of DNA in a gene.

3. A mutation is the only way that a trait can change so it can be passed to
the next generation.

4. Only mutated genes in egg or sperm cells are inherited.

Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

5. Few mutations occur randomly.

6. Mutations can affect an organism’s ability to survive in its environment.

7. Mutations are always harmful to an organism.

8. Mutations can spread to an entire population.

20 Inheritance and Adaptations

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Lesson Quiz A LESSON 1

Inheritance and Traits

Multiple Choice
Directions: On the line before each question, write the letter of the correct answer.

1. Which trait is NOT inherited?

A. height
B. hair color
C. writing skill

2. Which statement is true of chromosomes?

A. They are made up of DNA.
B. They destroy genes in egg cells.
C. They exist in cell groups of threes.

3. Which factor determines whether flamingoes will mate?

A. genotype
B. mutations
C. environment

Matching
Directions: On the line before each definition, write the letter of the term that matches it correctly. Each term
is used only once.

4. a permanent change in DNA sequence A. genotype

Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

5. section of DNA with genetic information for one B. mutation

trait C. phenotype
6. the complete set of genes of an organism D. trait

7. how a distinguishing characteristic appears E. gene

8. a distinguishing characteristic of an organism

Inheritance and Adaptations 23

Name Date Class

Lesson Quiz B LESSON 1

Inheritance and Traits

Short Answer
Directions: Respond to each statement on the lines provided.

1. Compare and contrast the types of characteristics that are inherited and not inherited.

2. Describe the role that chromosomes play in inheritance.

3. Explain how the environment can often play a role in determining phenotype.

Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Matching
Directions: On the line before each definition, write the letter of the term that matches it correctly. Not all terms
are used.

4. a permanent change in DNA sequence A. chromosome

5. section of DNA that has genetic information for B. genotype

one trait C. meiosis
6. the complete set of genes of an organism D. mutation

7. how a distinguishing characteristic appears E. phenotype

F. trait
8. a distinguishing characteristic of an organism
G. gene

24 Inheritance and Adaptations

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Lesson Outline LESSON 2

Adaptations in Species
A. What is adaptation?
1. are slight differences in inherited traits among
individual members of a species.
2. Variations occur through , which can be harmful, not
harmful, or beneficial.
3. An inherited trait that helps a species survive in its environment is called
a(n) .
B. How Adaptations Occur
1. The process by which organisms with variations that help them survive in their
environment live longer, compete better, and reproduce more than those that do
not have the variation is called .
a. A variation that helps an organism or compete better
in its environment enables the organism with that variation to live longer.
b. An organism that lives longer tends to have more that
also can have the variation.
c. Over many , more and more offspring inherit a

Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

beneficial variation.
d. Once most of a population have a beneficial variation, it becomes
a(n) .
2. New variations are random and occur continually because
are random and occur continually.
3. When an environment changes, a population must
through natural selection or it will die off.
4. is the selection and breeding of organisms that have
desired traits.
5. Selective breeding is similar to natural selection except, instead of nature,
do the selecting.
C. Types of Adaptations
1. Adaptations enable species to maintain , avoid
, find and eat food, and move.

28 Inheritance and Adaptations

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Lesson Outline continued

2. The three main categories of adaptations are structural, behavioral,

and .
a. A structural adaptation is a(n) trait, such as color,
shape, or internal structure, that increases survival.
b. A behavioral adaptation is a behavior or such as
migration, hibernation, hunting at night, or playing dead, that increases survival.
c. A functional adaptation is a(n) change such as
hibernating, shedding, or spitting, that enables a species to increase survival or
maintain homeostasis.
3. is the ability of an organism to keep its internal
conditions within certain limits.
4. Adaptations that protect organisms from predators include
that make an organism resemble something else.
a. Adaptations that enable a species to blend in with its environment are
called .
b. An adaptation in which one species looks like another species is
called .
5. Adaptations such as camouflage and mimicry that protect species from predators can
Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

also help species find .

6. Some plants have adaptations such as modified underground
that enable them to store food.
7. Adaptations that help species move include , wings,
flippers, fins, and tails.
8. Movement helps species search for food, avoid predators, and escape
unpleasant .

Inheritance and Adaptations 29

 Name Date Class

Content Practice A LESSON 2

Adaptations in Species
Directions: On the line before each definition, write the letter of the term that matches it correctly. Each term
is used only once.

1. a slight difference in inherited traits among A. adaptation

individual members of a species
B. behavioral adaptation
C. camouflage
2. a trait that helps a species survive in its
D. functional adaptation
environment
E. mimicry

3. a process by which organisms that have variations F. natural selection

that help them survive in their environment live G. selective breeding
longer, compete better, and reproduce more than
H. structural adaptation
those that do not have the variation
I. variation

4. the selection and breeding of organisms that have

desired traits

5. a physical trait that increases survival

Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

6. a behavior or action that increases survival

7. a biochemical change that increases survival

8. an adaptation that helps a species blend in with

its environment

9. an adaptation in which one species looks like

another species

Inheritance and Adaptations 31

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Content Practice B LESSON 2

Adaptations in Species
Directions: On the line after each adaptation, write S if the adaptation is a structural adaptation, B if the
adaptation is a behavioral adaptation, or F if the adaptation is a functional adaptation.

1. hibernation

2. eye color

3. spitting

4. shedding

5. migration

6. body shape

7. playing dead

Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

8. hunting at night

9. internal structure
Directions: Answer each question or respond to each statement on the lines provided.

10. What is homeostasis?

11. Give an example of how your body maintains homeostasis.

32 Inheritance and Adaptations

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Language Arts Support LESSON 2

Word-Usage Activity: Avoiding Double Negatives

Some words have positive meanings, and others have negative meanings. You only need to
use one negative word in a sentence to convey a negative meaning.
When two negative words are used together, it is called a double negative. You should avoid
using double negatives.

Positive Negative
is, are isn’t, aren’t
can can’t
will won’t
ever, always never
anybody, somebody nobody
one, all none
everyone, someone no one
something, anything nothing
somewhere, anywhere nowhere
some, any scarcely, hardly
Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Directions: Underline the correct word in parentheses that completes each sentence.

1. Nobody (could, couldn’t) identify where the inherited traits came from.

2. He didn’t do (nothing, anything) to prepare for the test.

3. When it is stretched out, DNA (is, isn’t) never 5 m long.

4. Environmental factors such as light, temperature, and moisture aren’t (ever, never)
constant in any environment.

5. Don’t use (any, no) fertilizer on that plant; it has more than enough already.

6. She would not do (none, any) of her homework.

7. No solitary desert locusts are (never, ever) the same color as they are in the swarm.

Inheritance and Adaptations 33

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Language Arts Support LESSON 2

Mechanics Activity: Semicolons and Colons

You can use a semicolon to join parts of a compound sentence when the words or, and, or
but are not used. In the sentence below, a compound sentence is connected using a comma
and the word but:
If an organism’s phenotype changes in response to the environment, its genotype does
not change, but if an organism’s genotype changes with a mutation, the changes are
passed to the next generation.
A semicolon can connect the compound sentence without using a comma or the word but:
If an organism’s phenotype changes in response to the environment, then its genotype
does not change; if an organism’s genotype changes with a mutation, then the changes
are passed to the next generation.
You can use a colon to introduce a list of items at the end of a sentence:
The phenotype is affected by environmental factors: light, temperature, moisture,
nutrients, and social factors.

Directions: Insert colons or semicolons as needed in the sentences below.

1. All genes can mutate only sperm and egg mutations are passed on to the next generation.

2. The social group of an organism can affect several factors color, behavior, and body
structure.

Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

3. An organism might develop an adaptation for a number of purposes to move, to
maintain homeostasis, to find food, and to eat.

4. Some mutations have no effect on an organism they do not hurt or help.

5. Natural selection results in changes in traits selective breeding also results in changes in
traits.

6. Adaptations in organisms come in three main groups structural, behavioral, and

functional.

7. When the environment changes quickly, a population might adapt to survive a

population might also fail to adapt, and the species could go extinct.

34 Inheritance and Adaptations

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Key Concept Builder LESSON 2

Adaptations in Species
Key Concept How do mutations cause variations?

Directions: On the line before each statement, write the letter of the correct answer.

1. Offspring are different from their parents because of the process of

A. selective breeding.
B. sexual reproduction.
C. asexual reproduction.

2. Slight differences in inherited traits among individual members of a species

are called
A. genes.
B. variations.
C. acquired traits.

3. Variations occur through

A. mutations.
B. fertilization.
C. adaptations.
4. A mutation can
A. help an organism.

Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

B. harm an organism.
C. harm or help an organism.

5. A trait that helps a species survive in its environment is a(n)

A. variation.
B. mutation.
C. adaptation.

6. Giraffe spots are an example of a mutation that became part of the giraffe
population’s
A. mimicry.
B. genotype.
C. environment.

36 Inheritance and Adaptations

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Key Concept Builder LESSON 2

Adaptations in Species
Key Concept How does natural selection lead to adaptations in species?

Directions: Label this diagram by writing a caption for each part of the diagram on the lines provided.

1. 2.
Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

3. 4.

Directions: Answer the question on the lines provided.

5. What is natural selection?

Inheritance and Adaptations 37

Name Date Class

Key Concept Builder LESSON 2

Adaptations in Species
Key Concept What are some ways adaptations help species survive in their environments?

Directions: Complete the concept map using the correct terms from the word bank in the space provided.

behavioral adaptation biochemical change physical trait

playing dead spraying venom structural adaptation

Types of
Adaptation

Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

functional
adaptation

behavior or
action

color and
shape of eyes

38 Inheritance and Adaptations

 Name Date Class

Key Concept Builder LESSON 2

Adaptations in Species
Key Concept What are some ways adaptations help species survive in their environments?

Directions: On each line, write the term from the word bank that correctly completes each sentence. Each term
is used only once.

adaptations camouflage homeostasis mimicry

predators prey sweating

(1.) help species maintain homeostasis, avoid predators,

find and eat food, and move. The ability of an organism to keep its internal conditions
within certain limits is called (2.) .
(3.) is an example of how the human body maintains
homeostasis. Species also have adaptations to protect themselves from animals that hunt, or
(4.) . For example, (5.) is an
adaptation that helps a species blend in with its natural surroundings.
(6.) is an adaptation in which one species looks like another
species. Camouflage and mimicry also help species hide from the animals they hunt, or
their (7.) .
Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Directions: In the space provided, draw the beak of a bird that is adapted to search for insects in a tree and the
beak of a bird that is adapted to crack open hard nuts. Label your drawing.

Inheritance and Adaptations 39

Name Date Class

Lesson Quiz A LESSON 2

Adaptations in Species
True or False
Directions: On the line before each statement, write T if the statement is true or F if the statement is false. If the
statement is false, change the underlined word(s) to make it true. Write your changes on the lines provided.

1. A behavioral adaptation is a biochemical change within an organism that helps

it survive or maintain homeostasis.

2. Natural selection occurs when humans select and breed organisms that have
desired traits.

3. The ability of an organism to maintain internal conditions within certain limits

within a changing environment is called homeostasis.

Matching
Directions: On the line before each definition, write the letter of the term that matches it correctly. Each term
is used only once.

4. the result of mutations A. adaptation

Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

5. a trait that is beneficial to a species B. camouflage
C. mimicry
6. process by which beneficial variations help some
organisms reproduce more D. natural selection

7. an adaptation that helps a species blend in with E. variation

surroundings

8. an adaptation that helps one species appear to

be a different species

42 Inheritance and Adaptations

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Lesson Quiz B LESSON 2

Adaptations in Species
Short Answer
Directions: Respond to each statement on the lines provided.

1. Name a functional adaptation that helps a species survive.

2. Explain how selective breeding differs from natural selection.

3. Point out why homeostasis requires adaptation to a changing environment.

Matching
Directions: On the line before each definition, write the letter of the term that matches it correctly. Not all terms
Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

are used.

4. the result of mutations A. adaptation

5. a trait that is beneficial to a species B. camouflage

C. extinction
6. process by which beneficial variations help some
organisms reproduce more D. mimicry

7. an adaptation that helps a species blend in with E. natural selection

surroundings F. selective breeding
8. an adaptation that helps one species appear to G. variation
be a different species

Inheritance and Adaptations 43

 Lesson Outline for Teaching Lesson Outline continued
Lesson 1: Inheritance and Traits D. Influencing Traits
A. What is inheritance?
1. An organism’s genotype is its complete set of genes.
1. A(n) trait is a distinguishing characteristic of an organism.
2. The traits expressed by the genotype can be influenced by an organism’s environment.
2. The passing of traits from generation to generation is called inheritance.
3. How a trait appears, or is expressed, is called the trait’s phenotype.
3. A trait that an organism acquires or develops during its lifetime is called
a. Phenotypes result from the interaction between an organism’s genes and its
a(n) acquired trait.
environment.
B. Inheritance and DNA
b. Nutrients can cause dramatic changes in the phenotypes of plants and animals.
1. Amoebas, bacteria, and some plants pass traits to their offspring by cell division
c. An organism’s social group also can affect color, body structure, or behavior.
and mitosis, a process called asexual reproduction.
4. A change in phenotype in response to environment does not affect an organism’s
2. Asexual reproduction results in offspring that are identical to the original organism.
genes and the change is not passed on to future generations.
3. Sexual reproduction produces offspring that are similar to but not identical to the
5. A permanent change in the sequence of DNA in a gene is called a(n) mutation.
parent or parents.
a. A mutation in a gene can change the trait for which the gene holds information.
4. Sexual reproduction requires DNA from a(n) sperm cell and an egg cell.
b. All genes can mutate, but only mutated genes in egg or sperm cells can be inherited.
5. DNA is a molecule inside a cell’s nucleus that looks like a twisted zipper.
6. Many mutations do not help or hurt an organism.
a. A section of DNA that has genetic information for one trait is called a(n) gene.
b. A(n) chromosome is a structure made of long chains of DNA. 7. Mutations that change an organism’s genes so much that they can affect an
organism’s ability to survive in its environment can be harmful or helpful.
6. In most species, chromosomes come in pairs.
a. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes in each body cell. Discussion Question
Describe the structure of a chromosome.
b. Human sperm and eggs, or reproductive cells, each contain 23 single chromosomes.

Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

A chromosome is a structure made of long chains of DNA. The DNA is tightly coiled with
C. Combining Genes
proteins, forming a compact chromosome that fits into a cell’s nucleus.
1. During sexual reproduction, an egg cell and a(n) sperm cell each contribute one
gene for a trait.
2. Each gene for a single trait is called a(n) allele.
3. The process in which sperm and egg cells form is called meiosis.
a. During meiosis, the chromosomes in existing egg and sperm cells replicate
and divide.
b. Meiosis results in four separate cells, each with half the number of chromosomes
the original cells had.
4. During fertilization, egg cell chromosomes and the sperm cell chromosomes
combine to form an offspring with a full set of paired chromosomes.
5. Each offspring resulting from sexual reproduction is unique because each sperm cell
and egg cell is unique.
T2 Inheritance and Adaptations Inheritance and Adaptations T3
C212_062_065_CRF_AnsOut_892486.i62 62 3/31/10 5:59:39 PM C212_062_065_CRF_AnsOut_892486.i63 63 3/31/10 5:59:42 PM
 Lesson Outline for Teaching Lesson Outline continued
Lesson 2: Adaptations in Species 3. Homeostasis is the ability of an organism to keep its internal conditions within certain
A. What is adaptation? limits.
1. Variations are slight differences in inherited traits among individual members 4. Adaptations that protect organisms from predators include variations that make
of a species. an organism resemble something else.
2. Variations occur through mutations, which can be harmful, not harmful, a. Adaptations that enable a species to blend in with its environment are called
or beneficial. camouflage.
3. An inherited trait that helps a species survive in its environment is called a(n) b. An adaptation in which one species looks like another species is called mimicry.
adaptation.
5. Adaptations such as camouflage and mimicry that protect species from predators can
B. How Adaptations Occur also help species find food.
1. The process by which organisms with variations that help them survive in their 6. Some plants have adaptations such as modified underground stems that enable them
environment live longer, compete better, and reproduce more than those that do to store food.
not have the variation is called natural selection.
7. Adaptations that help species move include legs, wings, flippers, fins, and tails.
a. A variation that helps an organism survive or compete better in its environment
8. Movement helps species search for food, avoid predators, and escape unpleasant
enables the organism with that variation to live longer.
stimuli.
b. An organism that lives longer tends to have more offspring that also can have the
variation. Discussion Question
c. Over many generations, more and more offspring inherit a beneficial variation. Do all variations affect an organism’s chances of survival? Explain your answer.
d. Once most of a population have a beneficial variation, it becomes a(n) adaptation. No, not all variations affect an organism’s chances of survival. A mutation could hurt or
help an organism, but it could also have no effect on the organism’s survival.
2. New variations are random and occur continually because mutations are random
and occur continually.

Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

3. When an environment changes, a population must adapt through natural selection
or it will die off.
4. Selective breeding is the selection and breeding of organisms that have desired
traits.
5. Selective breeding is similar to natural selection except, instead of nature, humans
do the selecting.
C. Types of Adaptations
1. Adaptations enable species to maintain homeostasis, avoid predators, find and eat
food, and move.
2. The three main categories of adaptations are structural, behavioral, and functional.
a. A structural adaptation is a(n) physical trait, such as color, shape, or internal
structure, that increases survival.
b. A behavioral adaptation is a behavior or action, such as migration, hibernation,
hunting at night, or playing dead that increases survival.
c. A functional adaptation is a(n) biochemical change, such as hibernating, shedding,
or spitting that enables a species to increase survival or maintain homeostasis.
T4 Inheritance and Adaptations Inheritance and Adaptations T5
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