TEKS Addressed: 7.2A, 7.2C, 7.2E, 7.3A, 7.3D, 7.4A, 7.12C, 7.14A, 7.14B, 7.14C

Introduction

This unit bundles Student Expectations that address inherited traits of organisms as instructions that are governed in the genetic material within a cell and passed from parent to offspring through reproduction. Asexually produced offspring are identical to their parent, whereas sexually produced offspring are more diverse because their genetic material comes from two parents. More genetic diversity increases the chances of survival of a species.

Prior to this Unit

• Grade 4

  • 4.10B – Explore and describe examples of traits that are inherited from parents to offspring such as eye color and shapes of leaves and behaviors that are learned such as reading a book and a wolf pack teaching their pups to hunt effectively.

• Grade 5

  • 5.10B – Differentiate between inherited traits of plants and animals such as spines on a cactus or shape of a beak and learned behaviors such as an animal learning tricks or a child riding a bicycle.

• Grade 6

  • 6.12D – Identify the basic characteristics of organisms, including prokaryotic or eukaryotic, unicellular or multicellular, autotrophic or heterotrophic, and mode of reproduction, that further classify them in the currently recognized Kingdoms.

During this Unit

Students continue to develop their understanding that traits may be physical (e.g., hair color) or behavioral (e.g., birds nesting). They define heredity as the passage of genetic instructions from one generation to the next generation. Students use scientific practices and tools to investigate and compare the results of uniform or diverse offspring from sexual or asexual reproduction. Additionally, students recognize that inherited traits of individuals are governed in the genetic material found in the genes within chromosomes in the nucleus. Furthermore, students relate the impact of research on scientific thought and society, including the history of science and contributions of relevant scientists. Additionally, students communicate and discuss their observations and record and organize data in their notebooks. Students continue to demonstrate safe practices as outlined in Texas Education Agency-approved safety standards and consider environmentally appropriate and ethical practices with resources during investigations.

After this Unit

In Unit 05, Investigating Adaptations in Plants and Animals, students will apply these concepts as they explore genetic variations and adaptations in plants and animals. Students will study the concept of genetics in greater depth in High School Biology.