KEY VOCABULARY WORDS:Family Trait, Premarital Counselling, Heredity,

Dominant” Traits

RESOURCES & MATERIALS:  Basic science, for JSCE , Internet YouTube

BUILDING BACKGROUND/CONNECTION TO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE:  The students are familiar with __________________________________________________

CONTENT:

Family trait refers to a characteristic, feature, or behavior that is commonly shared among members of a family. These traits can be physical, such as eye color, hair texture, or height, or they can be related to personality, such as a tendency toward humor, introversion, or resilience.

Family traits are often a result of a combination of genetic factors and environmental influences. Certain physical features may be inherited from one generation to the next, while behaviors and preferences may be shaped by shared experiences, upbringing, and cultural influences within the family.

Examples of family traits could include:

1. Physical Features: Shared physical characteristics like a distinctive nose shape, a particular hair color, or a specific body type that runs in the family.
2. Health Conditions: Predisposition to certain health conditions or diseases that have a genetic component.
3. Personality Traits: Common personality traits such as a strong work ethic, creativity, or a tendency toward introversion or extroversion.
4. Cultural Traditions: Shared cultural practices, traditions, or beliefs that are passed down through generations within a family.
5. Talents or Skills: Certain skills or talents that seem to be prevalent among family members, such as musical ability, artistic talent, or athletic prowess.

It’s important to note that not all traits are solely determined by genetics; environmental factors, upbringing, and personal experiences also play significant roles. Family traits can help create a sense of connection and identity among family members, and they contribute to the uniqueness of each family unit.

“Heredity” refers to the passing on of traits from parents to their offspring through genetic information. Traits that are determined by an individual’s genetic makeup are known as hereditary traits. On the other hand, traits that are not influenced by genetics but are acquired or developed through environmental factors are considered non-hereditary traits.

Heredity Traits:

1. Genetic Influence: Hereditary traits are determined by the genes inherited from one’s parents. These genes are composed of DNA and carry the instructions for the development and functioning of the organism.
2. Consistency Across Generations: Hereditary traits tend to be consistent across generations within a family. They are passed down from parents to their children through the transmission of genetic material during reproduction.
3. Examples: Eye color, hair color, blood type, and certain health conditions with a genetic basis (like cystic fibrosis or Huntington’s disease) are examples of hereditary traits.

Non-Hereditary Traits:

1. Environmental Influence: Non-hereditary traits are influenced by environmental factors, experiences, and external conditions rather than genetic inheritance.
2. Not Consistently Passed Down: Unlike hereditary traits, non-hereditary traits are not consistently passed down from one generation to the next. They can vary significantly among individuals within a family.
3. Examples: Educational achievements, language spoken, personal preferences, and certain skills or talents that are acquired through learning and experience are examples of non-hereditary traits.

It’s important to note that many traits result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The interplay between genes and the environment contributes to the complexity of human traits and characteristics. While some traits may have a strong genetic component, environmental factors can also play a significant role in shaping an individual’s characteristics and behaviors.

Family Trait J s 3 Basic Science

Compare And Contacts:Recessive” And “Dominant” Traits

Dominant Traits:

1. Expression: A dominant trait is expressed when an individual carries at least one dominant allele. Dominant alleles mask the effects of recessive alleles in heterozygous individuals.
2. Inheritance: Dominant traits can be inherited from one or both parents. If an individual inherits a dominant allele from at least one parent, the dominant trait will be expressed.
3. Representation: Dominant traits are often represented by uppercase letters (e.g., “A”).

Recessive Traits:

1. Expression: A recessive trait is expressed only when an individual carries two recessive alleles (homozygous recessive). It is masked in the presence of a dominant allele in heterozygous individuals.
2. Inheritance: Recessive traits are typically expressed when both alleles inherited from each parent are recessive.
3. Representation: Recessive traits are often represented by lowercase letters (e.g., “a”).

Comparison:

1. Expression: Dominant traits are expressed in the presence of at least one dominant allele, while recessive traits are expressed only when an individual has two recessive alleles.
2. Inheritance: Dominant traits can be inherited from one or both parents, whereas recessive traits are usually expressed only if an individual inherits two recessive alleles (one from each parent).
3. Masking Effect: Dominant alleles mask the expression of recessive alleles in heterozygous individuals.

It’s important to note that these terms are commonly used in the context of Mendelian genetics to describe the inheritance patterns of specific traits. In reality, many traits are influenced by multiple genes and environmental factors, making the inheritance more complex than simple dominance and repressiveness.