Question

amoeba sisters video recap dna, chromosomes, genes, and traits: an intro to heredity
a picture says it!

1. explain what this image represents regarding where your entire dna code can be found.
2. apply your understanding

spike is not a clone of his father. he inherited dna from both of his parents. chromosomes are condensed units of dna. if spike has 36 chromosomes, you would expect that spike would have inherited ____ chromosomes from his mother and ____ chromosomes from his father.

1. how did you determine the chromosome numbers and how does that relate to heredity?
2. as mentioned in the video, the environment can also affect an organism’s traits. the example of nourishment was used in the case for spike, as this could affect his growth and size. this can also occur in humans. uv light was not mentioned in the video. how could uv light potentially affect an organism’s trait? provide one example.
3. recap the vocab

identify some of the vocabulary you worked with by labeling them on this illustration:
dna
gene
chromosome
nucleotide
phosphate
deoxyribose (sugar)
nitrogenous base

Explanation:

1. In sexually reproducing organisms, offspring inherit half their chromosomes from each parent. Spike has 36 chromosomes, so half (18) from mother and 18 from father.
2. Determined by diploid chromosome number: offspring gets 1 set from each parent (haploid gametes fuse). Relates to heredity by ensuring genetic contribution from both parents.
3. UV light can affect traits; e.g., human skin produces more melanin (darker color) for protection.
4. Vocabulary relates to genetic structure: DNA (double helix), Gene (DNA segment), Chromosome (condensed DNA), Nucleotide (DNA unit with Phosphate, Deoxyribose, Nitrogenous Base).

Answer:

1. 18, 18
2. Offspring inherits half chromosomes from each parent (36/2=18); sexual reproduction ensures genetic contribution from both parents, key to heredity.
3. UV light can cause human skin to darken by increasing melanin production, a protective trait.
4. DNA (double helix structure), Gene (segment of DNA), Chromosome (condensed DNA), Nucleotide (basic unit containing Phosphate, Deoxyribose sugar, and Nitrogenous Base).