Genetics

What is a chromosome?
A rod-shaped cellular structure made
of condensed chromatin
Chromosomes contain DNA
DNA carries the genetic
information that controls
inherited characteristics such as
eye color and blood type.
Analogy: the marker

How many chromosomes do each

human cell contain?

23 pairs of chromosomes
46 chromosomes

Where are chromosomes found?

Chromosomes are found in the
nucleus of every cell.

What is DNA?
The genetic material that
carries information about an
organism and is passed from
parent to offspring.
Analogy: the string
around the marker

What is a gene?
A gene is a segment of DNA on a
chromosome that codes for a
specific trait.
Analogy: taped sections
on the string

Talk to your partner:

What is a gene?
What is a chromosome?
How are genes and chromosomes related?

Analogy
Gene is the smallest unit (tape on the string)
DNA is the next genetic unit (string)
Chromosome is wrapped around with DNA
(marker wrapped around with string)
Nucleus is where genetic material is found
(Box)
Cell (bag that contains the nucleus)

Explain how chromosomes are

related to genes.

Genes are located on the

chromosomes.

Where is DNA found?

DNA is found on the
chromosomes in the cells
nucleus.

Put the following in order

from smallest to biggest:
Nucleus
DNA
Chromosome
Cell
Gene

My mom has brown hair and

my dad has brown hair, so
why do I have blond hair?

We have to look at the

different alleles that your
parents passes on to you!

What is an allele?
An allele is a different
form of a gene for a trait
There are 2 types of
alleles: dominant and
recessive

What is a dominant allele?

A dominant allele is the form
of a gene whose trait always
shows when it is present.
It is represented with a
capital letter.
Example: Brown hair = B

What is a recessive allele?

A recessive allele is the form
of a gene that is hidden
when a dominant form is
present.
It is represented with a
lower case letter.
Example: Blond hair = b

If one parent has 2 dominant

alleles or 2 recessive alleles
then it is called homozygous.
If one parent has one
dominate allele and one
recessive allele then it is
called heterozygous.

Example:
If dad is homozygous dominant for
brown hair then his alleles will be
BB.
If dad is homozygous recessive for
blond hair then he will be bb.
If dad is heterozygous then his
alleles will be Bb. Since there is a
dominant B present, then his hair
will be brown instead of blond.

Example:
Genotype is the 2 alleles that are
found.
Phenotype is what the trait will
look like.
Homozygous or
heterozygous for
brown hair

Genotype

Phenotype

Homozygous
dominant

BB

brown

Homozygous
recessive

bb

blond

Heterozygous

Bb

brown