Genes, Traits & Change over Time

This unit prepares students to achieve the following Performance Expectations from the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS):

MS-LS1 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes

MS-LS1-5. Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how environmental and genetic factors influence the growth of organisms.

MS-LS3 Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits

MS-LS3-1. Develop and use a model to describe why structural changes to genes (mutations) located on chromosomes may affect proteins and may result in harmful, beneficial, or neutral effects to the structure and function of the organism.

MS-LS3-2. Develop and use a model to describe why asexual reproduction results in offspring with identical genetic information and sexual reproduction results in offspring with genetic variation.

MS-LS4 Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity

MS-LS4-4. Construct an explanation based on evidence that describes how genetic variations of traits in a population increase some individuals’ probability of surviving and reproducing in a specific environment.

MS-LS4-5. Gather and synthesize information about technologies that have changed the way humans influence the inheritance of desired traits in organisms.

MS-LS4-6. Use mathematical representations to support explanations of how natural selection may lead to increases and decreases of specific traits in populations over time.

This unit has been designed to address the following elements of the NGSS:

Disciplinary Core Ideas	Traits Module	Inheritance Module	Reproductive Success Module	Natural Selection Module
MS-LS1 B: Growth and Development of Organisms Genetic factors as well as local conditions affect the growth of the adult plant.	✔	✔
Organisms reproduce, either sexually or asexually, and transfer their genetic information to their offspring.		✔	✔ (non-bold portion)
MS-LS3 A: Inheritance of Traits Genes are located in the chromosomes of cells, with each chromosome pair containing two variants of each of many distinct genes. Each distinct gene chiefly controls the production of specific proteins, which in turn affects the traits of the individual. Changes (mutations) to genes can result in changes to proteins, which can affect the structures and functions of the organism and thereby change traits.	✔ (bold portion)	✔
Variations of inherited traits between parent and offspring arise from genetic differences that result from the subset of chromosomes (and therefore genes) inherited.		✔
MS-LS3 B: Variation of Traits In sexually reproducing organisms, each parent contributes half of the genes acquired (at random) by the offspring. Individuals have two of each chromosome and hence two alleles of each gene, one acquired from each parent. These versions may be identical or may differ from each other.		✔
In addition to variations that arise from sexual reproduction, genetic information can be altered because of mutations. Though rare, mutations may result in changes to the structure and function of proteins. Some changes are beneficial, others harmful, and some neutral to the organism.		✔ (non-bold portion)	✔ (bold portion)
MS-LS4 B: Natural Selection Natural selection leads to the predominance of certain traits in a population, and the suppression of others.				✔
In artificial selection, humans have the capacity to influence certain characteristics of organisms by selective breeding. One can choose desired parental traits determined by genes, which are then passed on to offspring.			✔	✔
MS-LS4 C: Adaptation Adaptation by natural selection acting over generations is one important process by which species change over time in response to changes in environmental conditions. Traits that support successful survival and reproduction in the new environment become more common; those that do not become less common. Thus, the distribution of traits in a population changes.				✔

Science and Engineering Practice	Traits Module	Inheritance Module	Reproductive Success Module	Natural Selection Module
Analyzing and Interpreting Data Analyze and interpret data to determine similarities and differences in findings.		✔		✔
Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions Apply scientific ideas to construct an explanation for real-world phenomena, examples, or events.	✔		✔	✔
Developing and Using Models Develop a model to describe phenomena.	✔	✔		✔

Crosscutting Concepts	Traits Module	Inheritance Module	Reproductive Success Module	Natural Selection Module
Cause and Effect Cause and effect relationships may be used to predict phenomena in natural systems.		✔	✔	✔
Patterns Patterns can be used to identify cause and effect relationships. Graphs, charts, and images can be used to identify patterns in data.	✔	✔		✔
Structure and Function Complex and microscopic structures and systems can be visualized, modeled, and used to describe how their function depends on the relationships among its parts, therefore complex natural structures/systems can be analyzed to determine how they function.	✔			✔

Why should I sign up?

Genes, Traits & Change over Time - NGSS Connections