4 Biology (Living Things and their Environment)

Heredity: Inheritance and Variation

Overview
The earth for millions of years now, has been the home, or is the home, and
will continue to be the home of many different kinds of living things or organisms.
Close your eyes. Try to imagine the earth without living things at all. How
would the earth look like if there were no plants and animals?
All living organisms produce their own kind. The process by which living
things produce their own kind is called reproduction. When organisms reproduce, the
adult give birth to the young that are more or less with similar characteristics as the
parents.
Have you had a family reunion before the pandemic? Do you know your
family members for four generations (grandparents, parents, siblings, nephews and
nieces)? Did you notice that you have some facial features that seem to be common
to several of you? You will find out more about how organisms produce their own
kind and how traits are passed on from parents to offspring.
Like human beings, other animals preserve and protect their own kind. You
will learn about the life cycles of selected animals/insects, parts of functions and
importance of animals to human beings, their homes and how they adapt and
interact to their different environments, their reproductive structures, common
characteristics and their basic needs for them to survive.
Plants are also living things. Sexual reproduction in plants is possible because
of the flowers. They can also reproduce without using seeds. It is called asexual
reproduction. You will also learn the life cycle and reproduction of a flowering plant
and reproduction in non-flowering plants, functions and importance of plants to us,
their habitats, their reproductive structures, common characteristics, basic needs,
interactive between and among other organisms in their different environments.
As you read this module, you will be able to connect yourselves to every living
creature here on earth, our only home. You should and must take care of it.

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 Learning Outcomes
At the end of this module, you should be able to:
1. infer that living things reproduce;
2. identify observable characteristics that are passed on from parents to
offspring;
3. describe the stages in the development of a human being;
4. describe examples of life cycle in plants and animals;
5. differentiate the life cycles of animals and plants;
6. describe sexual reproduction in plants
7. describe asexual reproduction in plants
8. describe sexual reproduction in animals
9. describe how spore bearing and cone bearing plants reproduce
10. distinguished reproduction in spore and cone bearing plants

Lesson 1: Living Things Reproduce (Grade 3)

Among animals, there are two major ways by which the young are produced –
egg laying (oviparous) or young is given birth (viviparous) by the female. Chicken
and other birds lay eggs that hatch to become new chicken or birds. A female
carabao, a goat and a dog give birth to their young. We call the young or baby
animals in many ways. Among humans we use baby or child.
Find the terms to call the young of the following: cow, pig, deer, goat, chicken,
horse and milkfish. List ten animals that lay eggs and ten that give birth to the young.
Through reproduction, we get some genes from our parents that are
expressed as traits or characteristics that we can observe or see. Genes are the
genetic factors that we inherit from parents. For example, when one parent has
dimples, you might have it. Cataract runs in the family, so if either of your parent has
it, you might also have it, you might also have it. Take note that family members are
not exactly alike but have similarities. List down the traits that you may inherited from
either parent in addition to what was given in the activity.
A farmer may choose big fruits of tomato as source of seeds for his next
planting because the new plants may also bear big fruits. Sweet oranges come from
sweet tasting fruits and farmers use grafting of the stems to produce new plants.
High yielding rice varieties are cultured by growers for next planting season. In the
market, you can see labels of different rove varieties to choose from. A sow that
gives birth to many piglets is chosen by a pig raiser so they can give more heads for
sale. Puppies with good breeds come from parent dogs with desirable features.
These examples show that offspring inherit some traits from their parents.
Reproduction among plants could be sexual – involving male and female
parts of the flower to produce fruits and seeds. The seeds are the ones planted that
will grow to seedlings and eventually become the mature plant. There are also plants
that reproduce by vegetative means involving roots, stem and leaves such as
runners, rhizomes, tubers, bulbs and adventitious plants). Rice seeds sown by
famers germinative and produce many tillers that grow and bear flowers then fruits

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and seeds. Man can also assist in the production of new plants through artificial
means such a cutting, marcotting or grafting. The variety of roses with big flowers
can be propagated not by seeds but by cutting. Many other plants propagated by
farmers and gardeners through vegetative means since the genes of the mother
plant are the same as in the cuttings
What is the advantage of having cuttings of plants for propagation if you are
into gardening and ornamental plants business?

Activity 1. Part A.
a. Interview people who grow leafy vegetables like lettuce, orange mint,
kangkong, and other high value herbs, without soil. Is this technology more
practical than using soil when you are in an urban area? Make a small
collection of five plants that you can grow by aquaponics. Describe how long it
took the stems to grow or the seeds to produce edible leaves.
b. Make a family tree of three generations (grandparents, parents, brothers and
sisters) focusing on only one trait that is found in your family. Use the
following symbols: circle for female, square for male, connecting solid lines.
Refer to the diagram:
Generation l Grandparents on your father and mother side
Generation ll Your parents
Generation lll You and your siblings
Note: There may be few or many boxes or circles depending on how many you are
in your generation. The eldest will be in the first box or circle.
I. Generation l – Grandparents on your father and mother side
II. Generation ll – Your parents
III. Generation lll – You and your siblings

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Part B.
1. Make a photo-essay showing how living things pass from one generation to
another their observable characteristics through reproduction. You may
choose plants, animals or humans as your subjects in the pictures.
2. Why do you have traits that are similar to that of your parents?
For Grade 3 Learners: Match the plant with how it produces its young and connect
with a line.
1. Potato bulb
2. Sugarcane rhizome
3. Ginger stem
4. Sweet Potato runner
5. Onion tuber
seed
Which of the following is inherited? Write YES for inherited and NO if not:
1. Color of skin ____________
2. Cough ____________
3. Eye Color ____________
4. Height ____________
5. Dengue fever ____________

Lesson 2: Life Cycles of Humans, Animals and Plants (Grade 4)

A. Life Cycle of Humans: Stages of Human Growth and Development
1. Fertilization – Union of egg cell and sperm cell
The process of human development, begins with the process known as
prenatal development. It begins with the union of egg cell and sperm cell in the
process called fertilization, conception. The chromosomes of the egg cell combine
with the chromosomes of the sperm cell to form a new cell called zygote. The
zygote, which contains a combination of genetic material from both parents,
develops into the embryo. The embryo then develops embryonic and extra
embryonic tissues which will later form the fetal membranes and the placenta.
Embryo is the term used for the developing organisms from the third week of
development until the end of the second month, fetus is the term used for the
developing organism from the beginning of the third month to birth. The amnion is a
membrane that surrounds the developing organism, it contains a clear fluid that
cushions the growing organism. The placenta is a structure through which materials
are exchanged between blood of the fetus and that of the mother. The umbilical
cord attaches the fetus to the placenta; blood vessels inside the cord transport
materials to and from the placenta.
2. Birth the release of the baby from the womb or uterus to the outside
world

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 During the first stage of labor, contractions of the uterus push the baby
towards the cervix, the cervix dilates, during the second stages the baby emerges,
and the umbilical cord is cut; during the third stages, the placenta and the amnion is
forced outside of the mother’s body by contractions of the uterus.
3. Infancy or Babyhood
After birth, the human undergoes different stages of physical growth and
development. The different stages are Infancy and Babyhood Stage, Early Childhood
Stage, Late Childhood Stage, the Adolescence Stage, the Early Adulthood Stage
and the Old Age Stage.
Infancy and Babyhood Stage is the stage from birth to 2 years of age. This
stage marks the rapid physical growth. It is considered as one of the most
remarkable and busiest times of development. Physical growth occurs rapidly during
the first two years of life. Development occurs in gross and fine motor, language,
emotional and temperament.
4. Early and Later Childhood
Early Childhood Stage happens from two up to 6 years of age. Healthy
children at this stage exhibit important growth and development in various areas
such as social and emotional, language and communication, movement and
physical, and cognitive.
The Late Childhood Stage happens from six up to twelve years of age.
Physical development is slow and steady in this stage. The child gains greater
control over his body. In terms of social development, the child’s relationship
changes towards others and the child will generally have multiple social contacts
outside the family. Emotionally, the child controls and understands his emotions and
becomes skilled in expressing his emotions. Most of the child’s cognitive
development takes place in school as the brain continues to develop.
5. Adolescence
Adolescence Stage happens from thirteen up to nineteen years of age. This
stage is considered as the transition stage between childhood and adulthood stage.
Sex maturation and rapid physical development happen in this stage. Boys begin to
show secondary sexual traits such as deeper voice due to thickened vocal cords,
increased growth of hair on the face, chest, armpits and public regions. Some parts
of the body may have more muscles and fats. Inside the body of the male, the testes
enlarge and produce sperms. Among females, secondary characteristics include
enlargement of the breast, development of hair in armpits and public area, and the
menstrual cycle. The female is able to produce an egg one at a time in the 28-day
cycle. Every month there are changes in the uterus to prepare for the fertilization of
the egg and pregnancy when the egg is fertilized. This includes the thickening of the
uterine walls due to an increase of the female hormones. When an egg is not
fertilized, it is released with the lining of the uterus as menstruation which occurs for
about three to seven days. Then another cycle begins.

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 Many women suffer from discomforts a few days before and during
menstruation. Headaches, sleeping problems, irritability and anxiety, tenderness of
the breast and even depression may be felt. These symptoms are pre-menstrual
syndrome. Regular exercise and eating balance diet may reduce these discomforts.
Tumor may occur in the uterus; ovarian and cervical cancers are possible disorders
of the female reproductive organs.
6. Early Adulthood
Early Adulthood Stage happens from nineteen to forty years. This stage of life
generally consists of leaving home, completing education, beginning fulltime work,
attaining financial independence, establishing a long-term intimate relationship and
starting a family.
7. Middle Age
The Middle Age Stage happens between the ages forty and above up to sixty-
five. This stage in life is the transition stage and physical adjustment stage. An
individual may experience decline in physical and mental capabilities.
8. Old Age
Old Age Stage happens from sixty-five to death. In this stage, an individual
could experience rapid physical and mental decline as well as psychological and
physical illness.
9. Death
This is the physical condition of the body when all the organs do not anymore
function to continue life. This is sometimes called cellular or organ death. This state
may not always happen after old age. Some people die young.

B. Life Cycles of Butterfly, Mosquito, and Frog

Metamorphosis is the series of changes undergone in form by animals from
egg to adult.
1. Metamorphosis in Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes lay eggs that hatch in water, to become the larva commonly
known as wrigglers. Even with small amount of water, the larvae can grow.
Eventually it becomes a pupa with an outer covering or a cocoon. Inside the cocoon,
the larva reorganizes to produce the parts of an adult. The adult then emerges from
the pupal stage when the cocoon breaks. Mosquitoes need water and land as habitat
to continue their life cycle.
2. Metamorphosis in Butterflies
The butterflies lay eggs in the underside of lower surface of leaves of some
plants that are preferred food like calamansi and “gabi.” The caterpillar or larva
hatches from the eggs. It is wormlike and feeds voraciously on the leaves as it grows
in size. Sometimes these would eat almost all the leaves of a plant. The next stage is

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pupa which is covered by a cocoon. At this stage, the pupa does not move. Inside
the cocoon, the larva reorganizes to produce parts of an adult. Then the cocoon
finally breaks releasing the adult butterfly. Many butterflies have colorful wings that
flutter at early morning from one flower to another.

3. Metamorphosis in Frogs
On the other hand, the female frog lay jelly-coated eggs in water which
fertilized externally by sperms released by male adult frogs. Black tadpoles hatch
from the egg. The tadpoles appear fishlike and later develop legs and external gills.
After about three months, the gills are replaced by lungs and the young frog emerges
and moves to land.

C. Life Cycle of Flowering Plant

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 The life cycle of a flowering plant starts when the adult plant produces a
flower. The flower has pistils that are involved in the development of egg cells. The
stamen of the flower produces pollen grains that contain sperm cells. The pollen
grains are transferred from the anther of the stamen to the stigma of the pistil by
insects and other pollinating agents. Fertilization of an egg cell by the sperm cells
occurs in the ovule of the ovary. The ovules develop into mature seeds and the
ovary grows into a fruit. The seeds inside the fruit can become a new plant.
Seeds from parent plants are scattered or dispersed by animals, wind and
water. Mature seeds germinate when favorable conditions are present such as
water, proper temperature and nutrients. The young plant grows to become a mature
plant.

Activity 2. Part A.
1. At home, germinate ten seeds of mongo until they become young plants.
Provide water, some soil and expose the potted plants to sunlight. Describe
the procedure that you will have and record the changes in the growth of the
plants for 20 days. You may photograph the setup and share your
observations in class.
2. Let’s go butterfly egg hunting by looking for butterfly eggs on the leaves of
some plants. When you find butterfly eggs, uproot the whole plant and replant
in a small pot. Place the small pot in an empty 6-Liter water container, bring it
inside the classroom and place it near the window. Replace the cones of the
container. Observe the changes that happen to the butterfly egg. Make a
photo essay.
Part B.

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 1. Compare a ten-week old fetus with a 20-week old fetus regarding size and
body systems. Provide descriptions of organ system development.
2. Suppose fertilization of human egg occurred on January 1. Predict what
month until the baby be born. What other methods or strategy can be used in
teaching this topic? How will you deal with sensitive issues in this lesson?
For Grade 4 Learners: Answer whether the statement is True or False.
1. All animals are born alive.
2. Some animals are hatched from eggs.
3. A human baby develops in the womb of the father.
4. Only mothers can deliver a baby.
5. Plants also undergo life cycle.

Lesson 3: Reproduction Among Flowering Plants (Grade 5)

A. Sexual Reproduction in Plants
The flower is the reproductive organ of a flowering plant. Some kinds of plant
have the flowers that produce both male and female sex cells. Other kinds have
flowers that produce either male or female sex cells.
1. Pollination can take place only between plants of the same kind. If the
pollen from a papaya blossom lands on a guava, for example, no
pollination occurs. A mango flower must be pollinated by pollen grains
from another mango flower. When an insect, or a small bird visits a
flower, that animal transfers the male sex cells from one flower to
another. This transfer is part of the process of sexual reproduction in
the flower.
2. In fertilization, a male sex cell joins with a female sex cell to produce a
fertilized cell.
3. After fertilization, the ovules develop into seeds. The seed contains the
embryo. Ovules develop into mature seeds, while the ovary develops
into a fruit. A fruit is ripened ovary that contains one or more mature
seeds.
4. When conditions are proper for growth, seeds undergo germination.
Germination is the growth of an embryo into a young plant.

B. Asexual Reproduction or Vegetative Propagation in Plants

Many plants that produce seeds can also reproduce by asexual means.
Asexual reproduction involves only one parent. Asexual reproduction in seed plants
is called vegetative propagation. Vegetative propagation is the development of new
plant from a stem, root, or leaf of a parent plant. In this process, there is no union of
an egg cell and a sperm cell and no seed forms.
1. Use of cuttings

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 A cutting is a plant part that has been removed from the parent plant
and used to grow a new plant. The plant part used is a cutting that is often a
stem with leaves attached. The cutting may be placed in water, in wet soil, or
in some other wet substances. Once the cutting is planted in soil, it will grow
new stems and leaves. Some important food plants such as sugar cane,
sweet potato and many ornamental plants are grown from stem cuttings.
2. Use of grafting
Grafting is a method in which cutting from one plant is attached to the
rooted plant, but it retains its own traits. Grafting is usually done in trees to
increase the amount of fruit a tree produces. Grafting can also be used to
grow fruits on trees that resist drought and disease.
3. Grown from corms, bulbs and tubers
New plants can also be grown from corms, bulbs and tubers. A corm is
thickened underground stem. “Gabi” is a plant that forms corms. Onions can
be propagated from enlarged rounded bud called bulbs. Tubers are enlarged
food-storing underground stems that contain many small buds called “eyes.” A
new plant can be grown from each eye as in potatoes.
4. Grown from leaves
New plants can also be grown from whole leaves or part of leaves.
Usually, only the fleshy leaves, such as begonia and katabatic can be grown
from their leaves.
Vegetative propagation is useful for many reasons. New banana plants
are grown from suckers. Grapes can be grown by vegetative propagation so
that the fruits do not contain seeds. Seedless fruits are easier to eat. This
method is often a faster method of growing plants than growing them from
seeds.

Activity 3.
1. What do you think are the challenges that you will encounter in
teaching this lesson? How will you address these problems?
2. There are plants that can be propagated both sexually or asexually like
organs, santol and mangoes. What are the advantages of one over the
other methods? Enumerate.
For Grade 5 Learners: Answer briefly. You may use a word, a phrase or a
sentence.
1. Why is vegetative propagation considered a form of asexual reproduction?
2. Describe how a new plant can be grown from a leaf, a stem or a root.
3. What are the advantages of using vegetative propagation?

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Lesson 4: Reproduction in Non-Flowering Plants (Grade 6)
A. Plant Reproduction: Non-Flowering Plants
Plants need to reproduce to maintain the existence of the species on earth.
Flowering plants reproduce asexually and sexually as you have already learned. Not
all plants bear flowers. Mosses, ferns and pine trees are groups of plants that do not
bear flowers for reproduction. Among mosses, the mature plant produces spores
enclosed in capsule and when mature the capsule breaks to release spores, a kind
of asexual reproduction. These spores germinate and grow to a mature plant which
you see in moist places like flower pots, brick walls, forest floors and river banks. In
the mature plant, sex organs produce either the egg cells or sperm cells. Fertilization
may occur to produce a zygote that will grow into a young plant. A moss plant has
parts that develop spore and sex cells. Mosses then reproduce both sexually and
asexually.

Among ferns, the plants that you see are those that produce spores on the
underside of the leaflets. When the spores are ejected from the spore cases that hit
moist places, these germinate and grown into heart-shaped gametophytes that
produce female and male sex cells. After fertilization the zygote grows into a young
plant that is spore bearing. The underground stems or rhizomes produce young
plants, Ferns are important in-home decoration, landscaping and for floral
arrangement. Fiddleheads, the newly formed leaves, are eaten as salads.

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 Conifers, like pine trees, generally are found in places like Baguio and cold
countries. They have needle-like leaves and produce seeds in cones of mature
plants. There are smaller male and bigger female cones that contain the
reproductive cells. The seeds are naked or not enclosed by a fruit wall. When the
seeds are released by the female cones, these germinate in moist soil. Pine trees
are sources of lumber, ornamental plants in parks and Christmas decors. The
relatives of pine include the giant redwood tree (tallest and largest plant on earth)
and bristlecone pine (the oldest plants more than 5000 yrs. old), cycads and ginkgo.

Activity 4.
1. Make a multimedia presentation on how parts of the reproductive system of
spore bearing and cone bearing plants ensure their survival. Your
presentation should not exceed ten minutes.
2. Make a dish garden using plants that reproduce asexual means.
Write the letter of the term that best matches the definition. Not all the terms can be
used.
For Grade 6 Learners:
1. Flower structure that bears the pollen grains a. pistil
2. The reproductive structure of flowering plants b. sepal

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 3. A leaf-like structure at the base of a flower c. germination
4. The development of a plant embryo into a young plant d. pollination
5. The transfer of pollen from one flower to another flower e. stamen
f. flower

SUMMARY

You have learned that living things reproduce. Traits that are shown by
parents are passed on to their offspring or young.
There are animals that are born alive like we human beings and there are
animals that are hatched from eggs like mosquitoes, butterflies and frogs.
You have learned that some plants produce seeds. Some produce through
vegetative reproduction. Plants have different characteristics. But no matter where
they live and grow, plants share common characteristics that make them different
form other living things.

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