Genetics

biology · heredity · how-we-inherit

Genes are instructions.. Genes are like tiny instruction manuals inside every living thing that tell your body how to grow, what color your eyes should be, and thousands of other things. You inherit genes from both your parents.

Parents pass traits down.. When you're born, you get a mix of traits from your mom and your dad, like their eye color, height, or curly hair. These traits travel through genes from one generation to the next.

Mendel discovered the pattern.. A scientist named Gregor Mendel figured out in the 1800s that traits follow patterns when they get passed down. He studied pea plants and noticed that certain traits appeared more often than others in their offspring.

Genetics explains evolution.. Understanding genetics helps scientists explain how living things change and adapt over millions of years. Different genes create variety in populations, which lets nature select the best traits for survival.

Discrete units of inheritance.. Mendel discovered that traits aren't mixed together like paint, but instead come in separate units that get passed down whole. We now call these units genes.