Unit 4: MOLECULAR GENETICS

- LP 4.1: I can construct a model to explain how a cell, as a system, replicates itself through the process of mitosis.

- LP 4.2: I can use a model to construct an explanation of how the structures of a cell and the process of meiosis create gametes with genetic variation.

- LP 4.3: I can use patterns in DNA and mRNA structures to develop a model to demonstrate the processes of transcription and translation to create proteins from DNA.

- LP 4.4: I can construct an explanation of how a mutation causes a change in a protein's structure and function.

STUDENTS WILL:

EXPLORE THE FOLLOWING SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING PRACTICES:
- ASKING QUESTIONING AND DEFINING PROBLEMS
- DEVELOPING AND USING MODELING
- ENGAGING IN ARGUMENT FROM EVIDENCE

HAVE DISCOURSE ON THE FOLLOWING DISCIPLINARY CORE IDEAS:

LS1.B: Growth and Development of Organisms
In multicellular organisms individual cells grow and then divide via a process called mitosis, thereby allowing the organism to grow. The organism begins as a single cell (fertilized egg) that divides successively to produce many cells, with each parent cell passing identical genetic material (two variants of each chromosome pair) to both daughter cells. Cellular division and differentiation produce and maintain a complex organism, composed of systems of tissues and organs that work together to meet the needs of the whole organism.

LS1.A: Structure and Function
All cells contain genetic information in the form of DNA molecules. Genes are regions in the DNA that contain the instructions that code for the formation of proteins. (secondary) (Note: This Disciplinary Core Idea is also addressed by HS-LS1-1.)

LS3.A: Inheritance of Traits
Each chromosome consists of a single very long DNA molecule, and each gene on the chromosome is a particular segment of that DNA. The instructions for forming species’ characteristics are carried in DNA. All cells in an organism have the same genetic content, but the genes used (expressed) by the cell may be regulated in different ways. Not all DNA codes for a protein; some segments of DNA are involved in regulatory or structural functions, and some have no as-yet known function.

LS3.B: Variation of Traits
In sexual reproduction, chromosomes can sometimes swap sections during the process of meiosis (cell division), thereby creating new genetic combinations and thus more genetic variation. Although DNA replication is tightly regulated and remarkably accurate, errors do occur and result in mutations, which are also a source of genetic variation. Environmental factors can also cause mutations in genes, and viable mutations are inherited.
Environmental factors also affect expression of traits, and hence affect the probability of occurrences of traits in a population. Thus the variation and distribution of traits observed depends on both genetic and environmental factors.

OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING CROSS CUTTING CONCEPTS:
- Cause and Effect
- Systems and Systems Models

GS 1 - QUESTIONING - Students can develop and use relevant scientific questions to investigate phenomena, test a hypothesis, conduct an experiment or solve a problem.

GS3 A, B, - MODELING - Students can construct and use models to represent and analyze phenomena and systems.

GS5 D - EXPLANATION & ARGUMENTATION - Students can develop, evaluate and critique scientific claims/explanations, arguments and solutions based on evidence from the natural and designed world.