What is a Trait?
TEKS Objective
Demonstrate that some likenesses between parents and offspring are inherited, passed from generation to generation such as eye color in humans or shapes of leaves in plants. Other likenesses are learned such as table manners or reading a books and seals balancing balls on their noses.
Essential Understanding
The student knows that organisms undergo similar life processes and have structures that help them survive within their environment.
Science Background
What is a Trait? Genetic Science Learning Center (website) - This slideshow/tutorial explains inherited and behavioral traits and how they are passed from parents to children.
What is a Trait?
Genetic Science Learning Center, www.learn.genetics.utah.edu
The Genetics of Inherited Traits: BioEd Online (website) – Dr. Ron McNeel explains how genetic information is passed from one generation to the next during this 20-minute video segment.
The Genetics of Inherited Traits
BioEd Online, www.bioedonline.org
An Introduction to Genes and Inherited Traits: BioEd Online (online course) – Develop your own knowledge and earn contact hour credit by taking this short online course. (Scroll down the page until you reach the course entitled: An Introduction to Genes and Inherited Traits.)
An Introduction to Genes and Inherited Traits
BioEd Online, www.bioedonline.org
Signature Lesson
An Inventory of My Traits: Genetic Science Learning Center (PDF) - Students inventory their own easily-observable, inherited genetic traits; identify how their traits differ from those of other fellow students; and record their observations on a class bar graph. Includes Spanish language student sheets.
An Inventory of My Traits
Genetic Science Learning Center, www.teach.genetics.utah.edu
- Supporting Lessons
- Extensions
- Assessment Ideas
- Literature Connections
- Related
TEKS - Additional Resources
Supporting Lessons
Finding Your Genetic Match: Biology Junction (website) - Students complete a “Human Trait Inventory” and compare their answers to those of fellow students to find the student who most closely matches their genetic trait profile.
Finding Your Genetic Match
Biology Junction, www.biologyjunction.com
Elaboration Lessons and Extensions
Each student marks leaf cutouts representing certain traits that he or she possesses. Students place their leaves on a large “tree,” each of whose “branches” represent a different combination of traits. When completed, the tree forms a visual depiction of the frequency of trait combinations within the class.
Traits Tree
Genetic Science Learning Center, www.teach.genetics.utah.edu
Assessment Ideas
Family Traits Trivia: Genetic Science Learning Center (PDF) - In this take-home game/activity, students conduct inherited traits surveys of their families. Then, in class, have students chart their data and write descriptions of their discoveries.
Family Traits Trivia
Genetic Science Learning Center, www.teach.genetics.utah.edu
Literature Connections
Traits and Attributes (Let’s Relate to Genetics). Hyde, Natalie (ISBN-13: 978-0778749660)
Charles Darwin (Giants of Science). Krull, Kathleen (ISBN-13: 978-0670063352)
When a Gene Makes you Smell Like a Fish. Seachrist-Chiu, Lisa (ISBN-13: 978-0195327069)
You and Your Genes. Johnson, Rebecca (ISBN-13: 978-0792288664)
Albino Animals. Milner-Halls, Kelly (ISBN-13: 978-1581960198)
Additional Resources
Variation, Deadly 60: BBC KS2 Bitesize (website) - In this interactive activity, students sort dangerous plants and animals into groups, based on their characteristics.
Variation, Deadly 60
BBC KS2 Bitesize, www.bbc.co.uk
DNA From the Beginning: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (website) - Begin with “Classical Genetics,” and continue to “Molecules of Genetics” and “Genetic Organization and Control” for a detailed overview of how genetic characteristics are passed from one generation to the next, among other related topics. Includes extensive background information, video, interactive questions to test knowledge, and links to other resources.
DNA From the Beginning
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, www.dnaftb.org
Heredity & Traits: Genetic Science Learning Center (website) - Links to online slideshows, tutorials and other resources that provide information about heredity, traits and the science behind them.
Heridity & Traits
Genetic Science Learning Center, www.learn.genetics.utah.edu
TEKS Navigation
Grade 4
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