Science 9 Biology Q1 Week 3

HEREDITY: Inheritance and Variation

Introduction

All of us have always been in awe how children are similar to their parent’s every trait;
from the color of the eyes, the shape of the face and even the shape of the eyebrows.
In this module, you will learn where these traits are found and how these traits are being
passed on from parents to offspring.

Objectives

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

1. define heredity and genetics;

2. identify the components of a DNA molecule;
3. describe the location of genes in the cell;
4. determine the possible characteristics of an offspring using the Punnet Square Method;
and
5. explain how genes are passed on from parents to offspring;

Try this!

All of us resemble our parents. We inherit a bit of their physical, emotional, or even their
psychological features. In this activity, let us try to find out whom we got our
traits/characteristics. An example is given below as a guide for you.

Trait Father Mother

Ex. Eyebrow size
Hair color

Trait Father Mother

1. Cheek dimples
2. Earlobe attachment
3. Face freckle
4. Eye color

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5. Hair color
6. Eyebrow size
7. Eyelash length
8. Tongue rolling
9. Height
10. Hair curl

Think ahead!

From the simple activity above, how do these traits were passed on from your parents to
you and your siblings? Do you have any idea? Share your thoughts with me.

Read and Ponder

DNA: THE GENETIC MATERIAL

We inherit a bit of our parent’s traits, which is why we resemble them. The science of
heredity is known as genetics. The passing of traits from parents to offspring (children) is what
we call heredity.

Trait is an observable characteristic which is determined by our genes. The specific form
of a gene is called an allele. For example, the gene responsible for a hair color trait has many
alleles such as an allele for brown hair, an allele for white hair and an allele for black hair.

Genes store information needed to make the necessary proteins that will code a specific
trait. The reason why we resemble our parents and the uniqueness of each individual as well as
the similarities shared among the family members is because of our genes. A gene is a specific
segment of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) that controls our trait. The DNA (deoxyribonucleic
acid) is a double helix molecule composed of a deoxyribose sugar, a phosphate group and
nitrogenous bases, namely, adenine, thymine, cytosine and guanine. Adenine always pairs with
thymine while cytosine with guanine. (When you reach Grade 10, these terms will be deeply
explained.)

But where do genes located inside the cell? Refer to the illustration below.

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The illustration clearly explains the detailed location of the gene, which is found inside
the chromosome specifically in the DNA. Now that we know what genes are and where it is
located, we will now find out how genes are passed on from parents to offspring.

It was Gregor Mendel, an Austrian monk who used pea plants to demonstrate how certain
traits/ characteristics were passed from parents to offspring and even through generations. He is
considered to be the Father of Genetics.

Human beings need to reproduce and pass the traits to their offspring in order to preserve
human kind. Humans have 46 single chromosomes (diploid) all in all. But during fertilization,
the sperm cell only carries 23 chromosomes (haploid) and unites with the egg cell which also
carries 23 chromosomes (haploid). That means both parents contribute a copy of each gene to the
offspring. Once the sperm cell and sex cell unite which carry only half the number of the
chromosome, the offspring will now carry the original number of chromosomes which is 46
chromosomes.

To predict characteristic/ trait of an offspring inherited from the parents, a tool called
Punnett Square is used. Let us first familiarize some terminologies used in predicting
characteristics.
 Genotype - the genetic makeup of an organism (Ex. AA, Aa, aa)
 Phenotype - the expression of an organism’s genotype (Ex. Tall, short)
 Homozygous - both alleles for that trait is the same (Ex. AA or aa)
 Heterozygous - both alleles for that trait are not the same (Ex. Aa)
 Dominant allele - the trait that always appear when it is present (usually in capital letter)
 Recessive allele - the trait that is hidden by the dominant trait (usually in small letter)

Steps in using the Punnett Square Method:

1. Draw a Punnett square.

2. Label the sides.
3. Add the parent’s allele
4. Fill in the square.
Note: When filling the square, the dominant trait always comes first before the recessive.
(Capital letter first before small letter)

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EXAMPLE 1: Cross the alleles of the parents and find

out the genotypic and phenotypic ratio of the offspring.

Trait: Hair Color A- Black a- brown

1. Aa x AA

MOTHER
Answer:
A A
Genotypic ratio: 2 AA and 2 Aa

Phenotypic ratio: 4 black hair color

F A AA AA
A REMEMBER THIS:
T
H In getting the phenotypic trait, always look at
E the first allele of the gene. In this example, all
R a Aa Aa the first alleles of the 4 genes are dominant
(A), which is why 100% of the offspring
might inherit black colored hair.
EXAMPLE 2: Cross the alleles of the parents and find
out the genotypic and phenotypic ratio of the offspring.

Trait: Eyebrow size B- broad b- slender

2. Bb x Bb

MOTHER
B b

Answer:
F
A B BB Bb Genotypic ratio: 1 BB, 2Bb and 1 bb
T
H Phenotypic ratio: 3 broad eyebrow size and
E 1 slender eyebrow size.
R b Bb bb

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NOTE: Only pages 5-6 will be returned to the subject teacher. The rest of the pages are meant
to keep and will serve as your lecture.

Name: __________________________________ Date: ___________________

Section: Ladjamatli

See if you can do this!

QUIZ 3

Directions: Answer the following.

A. Write TRUE if the statement is correct and replace the underlined word if the statement is
incorrect.

______________1. The actual set of genes carried by an organism is its phenotype.

______________2. Genes are observable characteristics determined by specific segments of
DNA.
______________3. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosome.
______________4. Genes are a segment of DNA found inside the chromosome.
______________5. Diploid cells in the human body contain 46 single chromosomes.

B. Cross the alleles of the parents and determine the possible phenotypic and genotypic ratio
of the offspring using the Punnett Square.

6-10. AA x aa
Trait: Eye color A- Black a- Brown

Trait: Hair curl
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
10-15. Bb x bb
B- Straight b- Wavy

_______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
5 _______________________________________
_______________________________________
 Science 9 Biology Q1 Week 3

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Performance task 2

DNA Paper Model

(adopted from DepEd’s Grade 9 Science Module, pp. 20-21 )

Objectives:
 Identify the components of a DNA molecule; and
 Construct a model of a molecule of DNA.

Materials:
Cutouts of basic subunits of DNA Crayons Scissors Tape or glue

Procedure:

1. Cut out all of the units needed to make the nucleotides from the handout provided at the
end of the module.
2. Color code the nitrogenous bases, phosphorus, and sugars.
Adenine = yellow, Guanine = green, Thymine = blue, Cytosine = red, Phosphate =
brown, and Deoxyribose = . black
3. Using the small squares and stars as guides, line up the bases, phosphates and sugars.
4. Now glue the appropriate parts together forming nucleotides.
5. Construct DNA model using the following sequence to form a row from top to bottom:
Thymine
Adenine
Cytosine
Guanine
Adenine
Cytosine

6. Let this arrangement represent the left half of your DNA molecule.
7. Complete the right side of the ladder by adding the complementary bases. You will have
to turn them upside down in order to make them fit.
8. Your finished model should look like a ladder.

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Guide Questions:

1. Is there always going to be an equal number of adenine and thymine nucleotides in

molecule? Why?
______________________________________________________________________________

2. Is there always going to be an equal number of guanine and cytosine nucleotides in a

molecule? Why?

READ ME!!
Your output will be graded according to the rubric below. Send a copy of your output via MS
Teams.

Rubrics:

Categories 5 4 3 2

Following Project All directions were You followed You followed None directions
Direction followed. most of the some of the were followed.
directions. directions.

Explanation Explanation is Explanation is Explanation is a Explanation is

detailed and clear. clear. little difficult to really difficult to
understand. understand.

Neatness The bottled The bottled The bottled The bottled

balloon is very balloon is balloon is less neat balloon is sloppy
neat and generally neat and and less and not
presentable. presentable. presentable. presentable.

TOTAL

Equivalent Points:

10 – 15 = 50

5 – 10 = 30

0–5 = 20

References:

 You and the Natural World (The New Grade 9)

 K + 12 Grade 9 Science Module