7th Grade Science Guide

7.4: Reproduction & Inheritance 3 Dimensions & Progressions

Unit 5

Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCI)

Science& Engineering Practices

● Organisms reproduce, either sexually or asexually, and transfer their genetic information to their offspring. (secondary) ● Variations of inherited traits between parent and offspring arise from genetic differences that result from the subset of chromosomes (and therefore genes) inherited. ● In sexually reproducing organisms, each parent contributes half of the genes acquired (at random) by the offspring. Individuals have two of each chromosome and hence two alleles of each gene, one acquired from each parent. These versions may be identical or may differ from each other. ● Animals engage in characteristic behaviors that increase the odds of reproduction. ● Plants reproduce in a variety of ways, sometimes depending on animal behavior and specialized features for reproduction. ● Genes are located in the chromosomes of cells, with each chromosome pair containing two variants of each of many distinct genes. Each distinct gene chiefy controls the production of specifc proteins, which in turn affects the traits of the individual. Changes (mutations) to genes can result in changes to proteins, which can affect the structures and functions of the organism and thereby change traits.

● SEP 2: Developing & Using Models ● SEP 7: Engaging in ● SEP 8: Obtaining, Evaluating and Cross Cutting Concepts ● CCC 2: Cause & Effect ● CCC 6: Structure & Function

Argument from Evidence

Communicating Evidence

K-2

3-5

9-12

● Young organisms are very much, but not

● Different organisms vary in how they look and function because they have different inherited information; the environment also affects the traits that an organism develops. ● Some living organisms resemble organisms that once lived on

● DNA carries instructions for forming species’ characteristics. Each cell in an organism has the same genetic content, but genes expressed by cells can differ. ● The variation and distribution of traits in a population depend on genetic and environmental factors. Genetic variation can result from mutations caused by environmental factors or errors in DNA replication, or from chromosomes swapping sections during meiosis. ● The ongoing branching that produces multiple lines of descent can be inferred by comparing DNA

exactly, like their parents and also resemble other organisms of the same kind.

Earth. Fossils provide evidence about the types of organisms and

environments that existed long ago.

sequences, amino acid sequences, and anatomical and embryological evidence of different organisms.