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7th grade · Science · Unit 12 of 16

Genes & Heredity

Genes, mutations and reproduction.

What your child practices

Practices how genes on chromosomes code for proteins that shape traits, how mutations can be harmful, helpful or neutral, and how sexual and asexual reproduction differ in passing on genes.

Alabama Course of Study content standard: 7.11; 7.13 · genes on chromosomes, Punnett squares, and how meiosis and sexual reproduction make variation

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Genes are pieces of DNA on chromosomes. They code for proteins that shape traits.
  2. A dominant allele shows its trait when present; a recessive one shows only if there are two.
  3. Mutations change DNA and can be harmful, helpful or neutral.

Example: B (brown) is dominant over b. Which color is an animal that is Bb? One dominant allele is enough to show. B is brown. Answer: brown

Genes & Heredity in Alabama

In the Alabama Course of Study, this is unit 12 of 16 in 7th grade Science, after Biodiversity and before Asexual & Sexual Reproduction.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Genes carry instructions for making…

    • sunlight
    • water
    • rocks
    • proteins

  2. Question 2

    Sexual reproduction produces offspring with…

    • no genes
    • a mix of genes from two parents
    • genes from one parent only
    • identical genes always

  3. Question 3

    Selective breeding is when…

    • people choose parents with desired traits
    • nature chooses randomly
    • animals choose by weather
    • traits are made from nothing

  4. Question 4

    Mutations can be…

    • never inherited
    • harmful, helpful or neutral
    • always helpful
    • always harmful

  5. Question 5

    A dominant allele…

    • is always harmful
    • only appears in plants
    • shows its trait when present
    • never shows

  6. Question 6

    Why do farmers' apple trees grown from grafting all taste the same?

    • Sun makes them identical
    • Grafting copies genes like asexual reproduction
    • Apples learn
    • They are watered the same

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