VHS+Science+Lesson+15

Today we are going to learn about how living things reproduce and the patterns we may see in reproduction.

What makes these family members look alike? How are you different from your parents? What makes people different from each other?



When organisms reproduce, they pass on genes. Genes determine the traits, or characteristics, of their children (also called offspring). The offspring inherit these traits from their parents.

Patterns are repeated sets of events. Living things inherit genes in patterns. By observing traits, scientists can often find these patterns. This picture shows deer with white hair but it's parents were brown. Scientists who first observed this pattern asked themselves how brown parents could have albino offspring. To find out, they studied the parents' genes and the different ways those genes could combine.





Looking at this picture this picture, do you think nature may have favored one animal over the other? Why?

(Play giraffe neck video)



What are some ways nature may favor some of these dogs?

Living things reproduce to create babies, or offspring. Different genes combine and produce different traits. Variation can happen when genes combine in new ways. Some organisms need just one parent to reproduce. They produce without sex, or asexually. The offspring inherits all its traits from one parent. The offspring has exactly the same traits as its parents.

Bacteria reproduce asexually. A single bacterium divides in two, creating two bacteria just like it.

Some plants and animals also reproduce asexually. For example, tulips and onions have underground bulbs that divide to form new plants.

= Sexual Reproduction =

Sexual reproduction always takes two parents. Each parent makes sex cells. When sex cells from each parent come together, a new offspring develops. An offspring from sexual reproduction is different from its parents. It inherits half its traits from its mother and half from its father. This mix of traits creates a one-of-a-kind individual.

Is anyone is this room an individual?

How are we different from our parents?

(play Zebra strips video)

Day 2 after review (play Bill Nye Evolution video)