INTRODUCTION TO
GENETICS
HEREDITY:INHERITANCE AND VARIATION
GENETICS
• Genetics is the science that
deals with heredity and the
factors affecting
transmission of
characteristics from one
generation to another.
• It attempts to describe
similarities and
differences(variations)
heredit
y
called inheritance or
biological inheritance,
is the passing on of
traits from parents to
their offspring; either
through asexual
reproduction or sexual
reproduction, the
trait
A trait is a specific
characteristic that is
unique.
Traits affect the way
we look
Traits affect how our
bodies function
Traits are inherited
Dominant trait
A dominant trait is
a trait that is
always expressed,
or shown.
–Examples are
brown hair,
Recessive
trait
A recessive trait
is a trait that is
covered up or
seems to
disappear.
Examples are
Where do traits come from?
A recessive trait
is a trait that is
covered up or
seems to
disappear.
Examples are
Do you see any ways
that these children are
similar to their parents
or brothers and sisters?
Look around. Is anyone just like you? You
and everyone else are unique. No two
people are exactly alike, including identical
twins. However, many of your traits are
inherited.
People in a family may have things in
common. They can share traits. You can
inherit traits from your parents.
Some traits include:
EYE
COLOR HAIR
COLOR
BODY
SHAPE
SKIN
COLOR
HEREDITY AND
GENETICS
Your genes determine
whether or not you
possess certain physical
traits. Your genes make
you blue eyed or brown
eyed, or have brown or
blond hair. These traits
WHERE DO GENES
COME FROM?
• An individual needs 2
genes for each trait –
one gene from each
parent.
• This gene pair is called
an allele.
–One gene comes from
the sperm cell (from
HOW DO GENES GET
THEIR INFORMATION?
A chromosome is a
structure in the
cell that contains
the genetic
information.
–This information
HOW DO GENES CONTROL
TRAITS?
DEOXYRIBONEUCLEIC ACID
DNA is the “instruction code” that
the genes use to form traits.
– DNA is long threads of material
found in all cells.
– DNA contains the “master code”
that instructs all cells in their
daily jobs.
Genes are short pieces of DNA
that make up our chromosomes.
Each piece of DNA that is related
to a gene makes up one trait.
dna
model
Dna,
genes,
C
& H
R
O
M
O
S
O
M
E
S
HOW DO WE
LOOK THE WAY
WE DO?
• Parents pass on copies of their
DNA to their offspring.
• The DNA from each parent
combines to form the DNA of the
offspring.
• How the offspring develops
depends on the instructions
coded in the DNA donated by
both parents.
• Offspring are similar to parents,
but different due to the many