Superhero Genetics - (1/30 - 2/3)

Image Source: https://goo.gl/wIPIOX

Summary:

     Genetics is the study of how traits, phenotypes, genotypes are passed on from parent to offspring. Genes are made up from DNA and determine the traits of an organism. The gene can come in multiple forms. A variation/form of a gene is called an allele. For each trait that someone has, there are two alleles. A combination of two alleles that show the same variation for the trait is known as a genotype. A phenotype what is actually seen based on the genotype. Alleles can be one of two things: recessive or dominant. If the offspring has at least one dominant alllele in the genotype, it will have that trait. If there is two recessive alleles in the genotype, the offspring will receive that recessive trait. For example, if you had a genotype consisting of the black eyes allele which was dominant and the brown eyes allele which was recessive and if the offspring has at least one black eyes allele in their genotype, they will have black eyes since it is the dominant trait. However, if they have two brown eyes allele in their genotype, the phenotype will be brown eyes since there is only recessive traits and no dominant traits.    

SP8 - Communicating Information:

      I communicated findings clearly and persuasively when I presented my Superhero Genetics Project Portfolio on a tri-fold. On that tri-fold, I presented my superhero, his superpowers, and how he got them through being genetically modified. I also showed my superhero's offspring and how his traits were determined through many Punnett Squares. I then showed the Epi-Genetics of the offspring, which determined the events he may encounter when he gets older (heart disease, depression, etc.). The events happening depend on what the offspring's mother did when she was pregnant with him/her. My superhero's offspring's mother had a lack of exercise so the offspring will encounter depression and heart disease later in the future. I also added my super villain, his normal organs and his nefarious organs and explained how his organs turned nefarious. 

XCC - Stability and Change:

     This week I found something that relates to genetics and how the genes of an organism can change so it has a brand new trait. When two of the same organism creates an offspring, it usually has the same genes as its parents, and these genes are usually passed on from generation to generation. This usually remains stable, but mutations can occur which can lead to the offspring having different traits that its previous generation. For example, humans (may) have had tails and walked on all four, but eventually have evolved out of this and now have no tail and walk on two feet. This is one example of how genes can change overtime when passed on from generation to generation.