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Reproduction of Living Things
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- Reproduction transfers genetic information from parents to their offspring.
- Some organisms reproduce sexually and others reproduce asexually.
- Animals engage in special behaviors to increase their odds of reproduction.
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Discussion Questions
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Before VideoWhy do offspring sometimes look similar to their parents and sometimes look different? ANSWER
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Offspring receive half their DNA from their mother and half from their father, which when combined together create a unique mix of characteristics that may or may not resemble their parents’ characteristics.
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DNA is the genetic information that determines all the characteristics of a living thing.
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Animals protect their young in many ways. Some animals might create nests to protect their young, whereas others carry their young on their backs or in a pouch. Some animals, such as many insects and fish, leave their young to fend for themselves.
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A chromosome is a coiled-up piece of DNA.
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Reproduction is the process in which a parent organism creates an offspring.
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An adaptation is anything that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment. There are two main types of adaptations: structural (a feature an organism has) and behavioral (an action an organism does).
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After VideoWhat is the difference between sexual and asexual reproduction?ANSWER
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In sexual reproduction, genes from two parents are recombined in their offspring. Asexual reproduction requires only one parent; the parent and offspring share identical genetic information.
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A Punnett square can find the probability of an offspring expressing its parents’ traits.
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(Answers may vary.) Asexual reproduction can be much faster because only one parent is needed. Recombining genes in sexual reproduction can create genetic variation.
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A dominant allele needs only one copy to produce a trait, whereas a recessive allele needs two of the same copies.
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Reproduction passes genes down from parent to offspring, ensuring the offspring’s survival.
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Some examples are male weaver birds building amazing nests, a male bullfrog making deep croaks, a male pufferfish making patterns in the sand, a female octopus guarding her eggs, a kangaroo protecting her young by keeping them in her pouch, and penguin mothers hunting for days for food for their young.
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Vocabulary
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Asexual reproduction
DEFINE
When a parent organism produces offspring with identical genetic information.
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Sexual reproduction
DEFINE
When two parents combine their genetic information to make an offspring.
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Chromosome
DEFINE
A coiled-up section of DNA.
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Fertilization
DEFINE
The combination of two specialized sex cells.
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Gene
DEFINE
A section of DNA containing instructions for making a specific protein.
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Allele
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A version of a gene.
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Dominant allele
DEFINE
A version of a gene that needs only one copy to produce its trait.
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Recessive allele
DEFINE
A version of a gene that needs two copies to produce its trait.
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Punnett square
DEFINE
A diagram that predicts the chances of an offspring having a trait.
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Geneticist
DEFINE
A scientist who studies genes and their inheritance through reproduction.
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Asexual reproduction
DEFINE
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Reading Material
Download as PDF Download PDF View as Separate PageWHAT IS THE REPRODUCTION OF LIVING THINGS?Reproduction occurs when an organism (living thing) makes a copy of DNA and produces an offspring. All living things on Earth are a process of reproduction.
To better understand the reproduction of living things…
WHAT IS THE REPRODUCTION OF LIVING THINGS?. Reproduction occurs when an organism (living thing) makes a copy of DNA and produces an offspring. All living things on Earth are a process of reproduction. To better understand the reproduction of living things…LET’S BREAK IT DOWN!
There are two types of reproduction.
The two main types of reproduction are asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction. In asexual reproduction, an organism passes a copy of all of its DNA to its offspring, creating a genetically identical individual. In sexual reproduction, two parents each contribute a copy of half of their DNA. Those copies are recombined in the offspring to create a genetically unique individual.
There are two types of reproduction. The two main types of reproduction are asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction. In asexual reproduction, an organism passes a copy of all of its DNA to its offspring, creating a genetically identical individual. In sexual reproduction, two parents each contribute a copy of half of their DNA. Those copies are recombined in the offspring to create a genetically unique individual.Different versions of genes affect the traits that are produced.
Genes are sections of DNA that control our traits, like our eye color or height. Genes often have different versions, which are called alleles. Alleles can be dominant (need only one copy of that version to produce a trait) or recessive (need two copies to produce a trait).
Different versions of genes affect the traits that are produced. Genes are sections of DNA that control our traits, like our eye color or height. Genes often have different versions, which are called alleles. Alleles can be dominant (need only one copy of that version to produce a trait) or recessive (need two copies to produce a trait).The probability of showing traits can be predicted.
In sexual reproduction, half of an offspring’s DNA comes from one parent, and half comes from the other parent. If you know what versions of a gene the parents have for a certain trait, such as curly hair, you can predict the odds of the version of the trait their offspring will have. For instance, if both parents give a dominant allele of a gene to their offspring, the offspring has a 100% chance of showing the dominant form of the trait for that gene.
The probability of showing traits can be predicted. In sexual reproduction, half of an offspring’s DNA comes from one parent, and half comes from the other parent. If you know what versions of a gene the parents have for a certain trait, such as curly hair, you can predict the odds of the version of the trait their offspring will have. For instance, if both parents give a dominant allele of a gene to their offspring, the offspring has a 100% chance of showing the dominant form of the trait for that gene.Living things go to great lengths to increase their chances of reproducing.
The ultimate goal of reproduction is to pass genes on to offspring, so living things work hard to increase their chances! Some living things use behavioral strategies, which are actions they choose to perform. A frog croaking a mating call, a bird building a nest, and a pufferfish making a pattern in the sand are all examples of behavioral strategies. Structural strategies are features an organism has, such as the colorful petals of a flower, the pouch of a kangaroo, or the light-weight seeds of a dandelion.
Living things go to great lengths to increase their chances of reproducing. The ultimate goal of reproduction is to pass genes on to offspring, so living things work hard to increase their chances! Some living things use behavioral strategies, which are actions they choose to perform. A frog croaking a mating call, a bird building a nest, and a pufferfish making a pattern in the sand are all examples of behavioral strategies. Structural strategies are features an organism has, such as the colorful petals of a flower, the pouch of a kangaroo, or the light-weight seeds of a dandelion.Scientists called geneticists study genes.
Geneticists are scientists who study many different aspects of genes. Some geneticists study how genes are passed down, or inherited, from parents to offspring. Others research how different versions of genes produce traits and why different versions might be dominant or recessive.
Scientists called geneticists study genes. Geneticists are scientists who study many different aspects of genes. Some geneticists study how genes are passed down, or inherited, from parents to offspring. Others research how different versions of genes produce traits and why different versions might be dominant or recessive. -
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When living things reproduce asexually, is the offspring the same of different as the parent? Why?
What is a punnett square? Describe how you would use it.
Both males and female animals have special behaviors to increase their chance of sexual reproduction. Give an example of one of these behaviors.
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