Variation and

TERM 2- UNIT 1 Inheritance

BRAINSTORMING ACTIVITY

Why all of you are sitting in class 7 and not in 5 or 9?

Why there is a need to classify the organisms?
How do scientists classify organisms?
TAXONOMY: THE BRANCH OF SCIENCE CONCERNED WITH
CLASSIFICATION, ESPECIALLY OF ORGANISMS

What is a key in taxonomy?

A key is a set of questions about the organism you want to identify.
The answer to each question takes you to another question. You work through all the
questions until you arrive at the name of organism.
 DICHOTOMOUS KEY:
A classification key that gives you two choices and leads you to the next set of
characteristics.
Nested dichotomous key:

Branched dichotomous Key:

Linked dichotomous Key:

CLASS ACTIVITY –
CONSTRUCTING KEYS
Complete this key to identify students as shown in the image
BRAINSTORMING ACTIVITY
•Differences between 5 classes of vertebrates
•What is the function of the nucleus in a cell?
•Is chromosome and gene same thing?
•How many chromosomes are present in human species?
•How do the groups of vertebrates differ?
Fish have scales, Amphibians have smooth or bumpy skin, Reptiles have scales,
Birds have feathers, Mammals have fur and hair. Some of the other differences
between the groups includes homeostasis (warm vs. cold-blooded), numbers of
chambers in the heart, reproduction, brain functions, mobility and sensory
organs.
•What is the function of the nucleus in a cell?
The primary functions of the nucleus are to store the cell's DNA, maintain its
integrity, and facilitate its transcription and replication
•Is chromosome and gene same thing?
NO
•How many chromosomes are present in human species?
46
VA R I AT I O N

•Species: A species is a group of organisms that share the same features and that can breed
together to produce fertile off-spring
•Variation: The difference between the individuals within species is called variations

Yet these snails look different because of variation

•What causes variation?
Variation is caused by genes and by environment.
I N H E R I TA N C E

•Inheritance is the passing of features from parents to off-spring

GENES
• Genes are set of instructions that determine the characteristics of an organism
•Gene is one section of chromosome and one chromosome
may carry many genes
•Genes are contained in chromosome which are in the cell nucleus
•Genes are passed on from parents to off-spring
FEATURES THAT GIRAFFE
INHERITED FROM ITS
PARENTS

Size
-

-Color
-Spot Shape
BRAINSTORMING ACTIVITY
•Do you have any pet animal? Do you know its breed?
•What do you think are different breeds of cats and dogs?
•Do you think scientists can grow fruits of desirable size or can have a breed of cats
with desirable characteristics
 SELECTIVE BREEDING
• Selective breeding is the process by which humans use animal breeding and
plant breeding to selectively develop particular traits by choosing which typically
animal or plant males and females will reproduce and have offspring together.

• Plant and animal breeders try to pass the most useful gene in a
population to next generation

• Four steps involved in selective breeding:

1. Decide what characteristics you want the next generation to have
• 2. Choose parents that have some of these features and breed them together
• 3. Select the offspring with the characteristics you prefer, and breed these
together
• 4. Repeat the process over many generations
EXAMPLES OF SELECTIVE
BREEDING
Holstein-Friesian cows have been selectively bred to give more milk
than their ancestors would. They’ll give birth and start producing milk before
they are 2 years old.

Maize – which is one of our main cereal crop has been

Selectively bred for at least 10,000 years.
Modern maize plants produce much bigger seed heads
than their distant ancestors did
MUTATATIONS
•Mistakes are made occasionally when cells copy genes. This is called mutations.
Most mutations are not harmful but some mutations stop genes from working
properly. They cause genetic diseases.

E.g: Sweet corn is a variety of maize with a mutated gene. The gene makes it store
more sugar and less starch in its seeds so it tastes sweet.
KEY POINTS
•Members of a species vary because they have different combinations of genes
•Selective breeding produces animals with specific features by controlling which
animals produce offspring
•Over many generations , selective breeding can produce varieties of plants and
animals
TOPIC: DEVELOPING A
THEORY
•Theories explain how or why things happen
For example, Charles Darwin proposed the theory of evolution that explains why
there are too many living things
•Another example includes cell theory that states all living things are made up of
cells. We use it to explain how living things stay alive, grow, develop and reproduce.
•Most theories form gradually. Scientist Collect observations and ask questions. They
suggest possible explanations and collect evidence to support their ideas. If the
evidence is strong enough , their ideas are accepted by other scientists. Their
explanations may eventually link to form a new scientific theory
DEVELOPING A THEORY
1. MAKING AN OBSERVATION
•Darwin left university in 1831 and spent five years travelling around the world.
He explored Galapagos Islands and the coast of South America. He found fossils of
giant mammals. They were similar to modern mammals but not identicals. He
wondered could the animals changed over time? Darwin also found many finches,
some had short, strong beaks and some had long, thin beaks. He wondered that
could these finches share the same ancestors?
2. POSSIBLE EXPLANATION
•Scottish geologist Charles Lyell published evidence that earth is very old. It showed
that rocks changed gradually over time. Darwin thought that living things also
changed over time. A storm blew first finches to Galapagos Islands.
Their beaks changed over many generations. How could these changes happen?

3. EVIDENCE
Darwin collected evidence about selective breeding. He realized that some of the
selection always takes place. They compete with each other to survive and reproduce.
This is natural selection. Natural selection relies on the survival of the fittest. The
finches with most well adapted beaks get more food, so they are more likely to
survive. As they pass their characteristics to future generations.
STRONGER EVIDENCE
Soon after Darwin published his theory Mendel also published the results of his
experiments. Since then many scientists have added explanations and evidence to
Darwin Theory.