Unit 3 Introduction
In this Credit Unit you will learn about the cell cycle, how cells reproduce, and the cellular basis for sexual reproduction in plants and animals. This Credit Unit also explores in detail the processes in genetic inheritance. You will learn the basic principles of genetics and how to apply them to human inheritance patterns and complex characteristics controlled by many genes.
By the end of this Credit Unit you should be able to:
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Outline in general terms the behavior of chromosomes and genes in mitotic and meiotic cell division, and how these processes relate to body structure and function, asexual reproduction, sexual reproduction, and genetic diversity. (Why do all those tulips look alike, but my siblings and I do not?)
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Differentiate between characteristics that are and are not likely to be hereditary, and given parents and offspring, explain simple Mendelian patterns of inheritance, and how these principles of hereditary relate to body characteristics, genetic diseases, sex determination, and biological diversity. (What is hemophilia, where did it come from, and why are most hemophiliacs male?)
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Describe the genome, explain the mechanisms by which a gene determines the structure of a protein, how proteins shape phenotype, how cells with identical genes differentiate and how mutations, genetic diseases, cancer, and viruses can alter these mechanisms. (Why do only certain cells grow hair, and why do some people have curly hair and some straight hair?)
Course Outcomes:
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Be able to describe the patterns of inheritance.
- Be able describe selected key cell processes.