Heredity+and+Reproduction

Pre-K-2
Students describe the cycle of birth, development, and death in different organisms and the ways in which organisms resemble their parents.

a. Give examples of how organisms are like their parents and not like them. b. Describe the life cycle of a plant or animal (including being born, growing, reproducing, and dying).

3-5
Students describe characteristics of organisms, and the reasons why organisms differ from or are similar to their parents.

a. Name some likenesses between children and parents that are inherited, and some that are not. b. Explain that in order for offspring to look like their parents, information related to inherited likenesses must be handed from parents to offspring in a reliable manner.

6-8
Students describe the general characteristics and mechanisms of reproduction and heredity in organisms, including humans, and ways in which organisms are affected by their genetic traits.

a. Explain that sexual reproduction includes fertilization that results in the inclusion of genetic information from each parent and determines the inherited traits that are a part of every cell. b. Identify some of the risks to the healthy development of an embryo including mother’s diet, lifestyle, and hygiene. c. Describe asexual reproduction as a process by which all genetic information comes from one parent and determines the inherited traits that are a part of every cell.

9-Diploma
Students examine the role of DNA in transferring traits from generation to generation, in differentiating cells, and in evolving new species.

a. Explain some of the effects of the sorting and recombination of genes in sexual reproduction. b. Describe genes as segments of DNA that contain instructions for the cells and include information that leads to the differentiation of cells. c. Explain how the instructions in DNA that lead to cell differentiation result in varied cell functions in the organism and DNA. d. Describe the possible causes and effects of gene mutations.