Inheritance

• DNA, the genetic material that carries information about our traits, is organised into structures called chromosomes. 

• Each chromosome pair consists of one chromosome from each parent. 

• Genes, sections of DNA that contain information for specific traits, are located on these chromosomes. 

• Each gene contains the code the cell needs to make a different protein.

The relationship between chromosomes, DNA and genes.

How traits are inherited

• We inherit half of our genetic material from our mother and half from our father. 

• This means that each chromosome pair we have contains one chromosome from each parent. 

• The specific genes we inherit from our parents determine the traits we exhibit.

Discovering DNA