Choose the Best Term for each

definition.
1. The result of
mitosis.
2. Genetic material
during mitosis
3. Process that
involves two
parent cells
4. Process where a
single organism
produces
offspring with

a. Chromosomes
b. Asexual
reproduction
c. Sexual
reproduction
d. Daughter cells
e. Parent cells

An Inventory of My Traits
Observable Human
Characteristics

We are all unique.

Even though we share some
characteristics with our peers and
family, everyone of us has a unique
combination of traits.
In the next slides we will see some
examples of these traits.

Information and pictures taken from - http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/

Earlobe Attachment
If earlobes hang free, they are
detached. If they connect directly to
the sides of the head, they are
attached. Earlobe attachment is a
continuous trait: while most earlobes
can be neatly categorized as
attached or unattached, some are inbetween.
Although some sources say that this
trait is controlled by a single gene,
with unattached earlobes being
dominant over attached earlobes, no
published studies support this view.
Earlobe attachment and shape are
inherited, but it is likely that many
genes contribute to this trait. As
such, its pattern of inheritance is
difficult to predict.

Tongue Rolling
Some people can curl up the sides of
their tongue to form a tube shape. In
1940, Alfred Sturtevant observed that
about 70% of people of European
ancestry could roll their tongues and
the remaining 30% could not.
Many sources state that tongue
rolling is controlled by a single gene.
However, as Sturtevant observed,
people can learn to roll their tongue
as they get older, suggesting that
environmental factorsnot just
genesinfluence the trait. Consistent
with this view, just 70% of identical
twins share the trait (if tongue rolling
were influenced only by genes, then
100% of identical traits would share
the trait)

Dimples
Dimples are small,
natural indentations
on the cheeks. They
can appear on one or
both sides, and they
often change with age.
Some people are born
with dimples that
disappear when
theyre adults; others
develop dimples later
in childhood.

Handedness
Handedness describes our preference
for using either our left or right hand
for activities such as writing and
throwing a ball. Overall, about 10% of
people are left-handed, but the
number varies among cultures from
0.5% to 24%.
Some have reported that handedness
is controlled by just one or two
genes, but this is not the case.
Multiple studies present evidence
that handedness is controlled by
many genesat least 30 and as
many as 100each with a small
effect; many are linked to brain
development. Environment also plays
an important role: some cultures
actively discourage left-handedness

Freckles
Freckles are small, concentrated
spots of a skin pigment called
melanin. Most fair-skinned, redhaired people have them.
Freckles are controlled primarily
by the MC1R gene. Freckles show
a dominant inheritance pattern:
parents who have freckles tend
to have children with freckles.
Variations, also called alleles, of
MC1R control freckle number.
Other genes and the environment
influence freckle size, color, and
pattern. For example, sun
exposure can temporarily cause
more freckles to appear.

Curly Hair

Curly hair is influenced by genes

much more than by the
environment. While curly hair
runs in familiespeople with curly
hair tend to have children with
curly hairits inheritance
patterns are often unpredictable.
Multiple genes control hair
texture, and different variations in
these genes are found in different
populations. For instance, curly
hair is common in African
populations, rare in Asian
populations, and in-between in
Europeans. Straight hair in Asians
is mostly caused by variations in
two genesdifferent genes from
the ones that influence hair
texture in Europeans. And
different genetic variations make
hair curly in African and European
populations.

Hand clasping
Without thinking about it, fold
your hands together by
interlocking your fingers. Which
thumb is on topyour left or your
right?
One study found that 55% of
people place their left thumb on
top, 45% place their right thumb
on top, and 1% have no
preference. A study of identical
twins concluded that hand
clasping has a strong genetic
basis (most twins share the trait),
but it doesnt fit a predictable
inheritance pattern. It is likely
affected by multiple genes as well
as environmental factors.

Red/Green Colorblindness

Red-green colorblindness is
caused by a single gene located
on the X-chromosome. This gene
codes for a protein in the eye that
detects certain colors of light.
When this gene is defective, the
eye cannot differentiate between
red and green.
You need at least one working
copy of the gene to be able to see
red and green. Since boys have
just one X-chromosome, which
they receive from their mother,
inheriting one defective copy of
the gene will render them
colorblind. Girls have two Xchromosomes; to be colorblind
they must inherit two defective
copies, one from each parent.
Consequently, red-green
colorblindness is much more

Hairline Shape
If your hairline forms a point at
the center of the forehead, you
have a widow's peak. If not, you
have a straight hairline.
Complicating the question of
heritability is the fact that the
trait is continuous: some people
have just a slight suggestion of a
peak.
Widow's peak is likely controlled
by genes rather than the
environment. But while hairline
shape tends to run in families, its
pattern of inheritance is usually
unpredictable, suggesting that
multiple genes are involved.

PTC tasting
To about 75% of us, the
chemical PTC
(phenylthiocarbamide)
tastes very bitter. For the
other 25%, it is tasteless.
The ability to taste PTC is
controlled mainly by a
single gene that codes for
a bitter-taste receptor on
the tongue. Different
variations, or alleles, of
this gene control whether
PTC tastes bitter or not.

Question of the Day

Some traits are
considered to be more
dominant(more likely
to appear) while others
are considered
recessive(less likely
to appear). Which traits
you looked at and
recorded today would
be dominant and which
would be recessive?
Explain your reasoning.