Unit C Concept Organizer
Unit C Cell Division, Genetics and Molecular Biology
Concept Organizer
The concept organizer below shows the relationships among the cell cycle, patterns of inheritance, and molecular genetics. A properly functioning cell cycle is needed for DNA to be duplicated correctly and divided into new cells for the next generation.
This generation expresses traits based on logical patterns of inheritance that can be understood by careful observation and recording. These traits are a result of the proper production of proteins from the genes found on DNA.
Cell Division — The Processes of Mitosis and Meiosis
When you scratch your arm or cut your finger, you will be glad to see your skin heal over the wound. What would happen if that re-growth did not stop? How do our cells know when to live, die, or replace themselves? This section explores the cell life cycle, the production of somatic cells, the formation of gametes, and the reproductive strategies of various species. This section looks at how scientists use their understanding of the cell cycle to combat cancer and ageing.
The following questions are explored:
- Is there a life cycle clock common to all organisms?
- What are the various ways that cells reproduce?
- What are the purposes of reproduction?
- What are the sources of variation or consistency in cell division?
Mendelian Genetics — The Transmission of Traits to the Next Generation
Should you look like your parents? Genetics is a complex topic, and this section explains the fundamentals of inheritance. Here, you will examine how simple traits are passed from one generation to the next. You will explore the patterns of inheritance that can be traced and predicted.
The following questions are explored:
- How are traits passed from generation to generation?
- What controls the physical appearance of an organism?
- Are all genes the same?
- Does the inheritance of traits always happen the same way?
- Can technology change the inheritance of traits?
Molecular Genetics — DNA, RNA, and Protein Synthesis
Unraveling the code of life was one of the greatest discoveries of the past century. This section explores how traits are coded by genes that are carried in our DNA and how these genes are expressed as proteins. This section looks at how scientists can manipulate these genes or transfer them from one organism to another, resulting in variations never before possible.
The following questions are explored: