Heredity and genetic material
I can explain that some, but not all, features are inherited when genetic material is passed from parents to their offspring.
Heredity and genetic material
I can explain that some, but not all, features are inherited when genetic material is passed from parents to their offspring.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Biological features are inherited when genetic material is passed from parents to their offspring during reproduction.
- Genetic material provides instructions for growth and other life processes.
- Only features caused by instructions in the genetic material can be inherited.
- Features caused by lifestyle and the environment cannot be inherited.
- Examples of features caused by genetic information (e.g. eye colour) and by the environment (e.g. scars).
Keywords
Environment - The environment of a living organism is its surroundings and the conditions in which it lives.
Lifestyle - The lifestyle of a living organism is the things it does and the choices it makes, e.g. diet and exercise.
Inherited - Some of the offspring's features can be inherited from parents, through the process of reproduction.
Genetic material - Genetic material is a substance in cells that contains instructions for various features and life processes.
Common misconception
Features caused by the environment or lifestyle can be passed to offspring.
Examples of inherited features e.g. eye colour, those that are environment and lifestyle e.g. scars, and those that are both e.g. height.
To help you plan your year 7 science lesson on: Heredity and genetic material, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 7 science lesson on: Heredity and genetic material, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 3 science lessons from the Heredity and DNA unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Process of making offspring.
The young of a living organism.
Process of passing genetic features from parent to offspring
Characteristic passed on from parent to offspring.
Exit quiz
6 Questions
blood type
growth
piercing