How Traits Are Passed Down

Genetics is the study of heredity—how traits like eye color or height are passed from parents to offspring. The basic unit of heredity is the gene, a segment of DNA that codes for a particular trait.

Mendel’s Laws

Gregor Mendel, the "father of genetics," discovered that traits are inherited in predictable ways. His famous experiments with pea plants led to the ideas of dominant and recessive alleles.

• Dominant Allele: Masks the effect of a recessive allele.
• Recessive Allele: Only shows up if no dominant allele is present.

Punnett Squares

Scientists use Punnett squares to predict the probability of traits appearing in offspring.

Why Genetics Matters

Genetics helps us understand diseases, personalize medicine, and even improve crops and livestock.

Ethical Considerations

As we learn more about genetics, it’s important to think about how this knowledge is used—like in genetic testing or modifying organisms.