Gregor Mendel was the first to understand genetics through his experiments with pea plants in which he discovered dominant and recessive traits. He developed the Punnett square to predict the expression of traits based on alleles. Genes hold the DNA code for building and maintaining an organism and are passed from parents to offspring. The genotype is an organism's full genetic makeup determined by alleles, while the phenotype describes observable traits influenced both by genes and the environment. Natural selection can act on phenotypes to influence evolution over time. Some traits like eye color are inherited through DNA, while environmental traits like language are acquired rather than genetic.

1. Traits :Inherited or Learned

2. Genetics Background:Gregor MendelFirst man to understand geneticsHe studied inheritance in Pea PlantsExperimented with cross pollinationDiscovered difference between dominant and recessive traits.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregor_mendel

3. Dominant vs. RecessiveDominant trait always appears when presentRecessive traits can recede in backgroundNeed two recessive alleles for trait to show

4. Gregor Mendel's Punnett SquareDominant AlleleRecessive Allele

5. Homozygous vs. HeterozygousHomozygous = Two same alleles to make up a traitEx. BB, bbHeterozygous = Two different allelesEx. Bbwww.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/genotypes

6. GenesHold info to build / maintain cellsPass genetic info to offspringMake up a sequence of DNAwww.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene

7. AlleleMake up part of a geneMake up trait of a organismNeed two alleles to make up a trait

8. Genotype Full heredity informationDetermined fully by DNAUsually refers to specific characterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genotype-phenotype_distinction

9. PhenotypeTrait of organismMolecular, physical, behavioralDetermined by genes as well as environmentAlso effected by evolution / natural selectionGenotype + Environment = Phenotype www.wiki.org/wiki/phenotype

10. Natural SelectionEvolution of an organismChange occurs to help organism survive / reproduceChanges phenotype not genotype

11. Inherited TraitsTraits of a person determined by genesNot something that can be changed Ex. Eye color, skin color

12. Environmental or Acquired TraitsThings that effect organism that are learnedNot effected by genes of organismEx. Language a person speaks or accent

13. Build your own Punnett SquareFill in the blanks

14. ReviewWhich of the following is a example of a Inherited trait?Hair colorFavorite foodAccent

15. ReviewFill in the blankGenotype + __________ = Phenotype Is the allele combination BB or bb an example of homozygous or heterozygous trait?

16. ReviewGregor Mendel studied cross-pollination in which type of plant?Rose Pea plantCornAre traits inherited, learned or a combination of both?