Instructions for life
Genes in every cell.
Cow and calf
A cow has a calf. A cat has a kitten. Each looks like its parent.
Why do young ones resemble their parents?
What this lesson covers
The idea
Parents pass on to offspring instructions for developing from a single cell; these instructions, called genetic material or genes, are stored in every cell, which is why offspring resemble their parents.
Cow and calf
A cow has a calf. A cat has a kitten. Each looks like its parent.
Why do young ones resemble their parents?
- Parents pass on instructions for development
- Because they live together
- Because they eat the same food
Pass on the instructions
Press Next step.
Genes
These instructions, called genetic material or genes, are stored in every cell of a living being. Some instructions tell the cell how to make blood, others guide the formation of bones, muscles or skin.
Genes (genetic material) are instructions for developing from a single cell. They are stored in every cell. Parents pass them to offspring, so offspring resemble their parents.
Notes
Genes are instructions stored in every cell, passed from parents to offspring.
Check yourself
The instructions for development that parents pass on are called …
Genes are stored in …
A calf grows into a cow because of …
Offspring resemble their parents because parents pass on …
- gametes. Gametes are reproductive cells that carry the genes.
- minerals. Minerals are natural solids in the Earth.
- genes (genetic material) — correct. Yes!
- every cell of a living being — correct. Yes!
- only the skin. They are stored in every cell.
- only the blood. They are stored in every cell.
- the colour of its food. The instructions in its genes guide its growth.
- the instructions it gets from its parents — correct. Yes!
- chance. The genes it inherits guide its growth.
- clothes. Parents pass on genes.
- habitats. Parents pass on genes.
- genes — correct. Yes!