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7th grade · Science · Unit 9 of 10

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.

Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards benchmark: 7L.3.1.1.4 · why asexual reproduction gives identical offspring and sexual reproduction gives 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 Minnesota

In the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards, this is unit 9 of 10 in 7th grade Science, after Cycles & Succession and before Natural Selection.

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: Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)

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 are made of…

    • sugar
    • fat
    • protein only
    • DNA

  2. Question 2

    Genes are found on…

    • ribosomes
    • cell walls
    • chromosomes
    • mitochondria only

  3. Question 3

    A dominant allele…

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

  4. Question 4

    A mutation is…

    • a change in DNA
    • a type of food
    • a new cell wall
    • a kind of rock

  5. Question 5

    Different forms of a gene are called…

    • proteins
    • alleles
    • chromosomes
    • cells

  6. Question 6

    A mutation changes a protein so it no longer works. The effect is most likely…

    • harmful
    • no effect on traits
    • helpful
    • always neutral

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