Course 235 · Life course 57

Follow Genetic Information and Inheritance

A fictional plant inheritance notebook with DNA-to-protein explanations, simple inheritance crosses and a distinction between probability and certainty. Six introductory lessons use supplied practice cases.

Before you start

Use paper or a free text document; every core input is supplied in the lessons.

Explain How Cells Support Living Things See everything you’ll need

Free download · Original practice data · No external account required. Download the starter pack

What you’ll leave with

A fictional plant inheritance notebook with DNA-to-protein explanations, simple inheritance crosses and a distinction between probability and certainty.

Start course Start without an account. Sign in to save lesson progress across devices.

Your project

Start with the practice files. Build your project one lesson at a time.

Practice files are free without an account. Sign in to save your project record in My Proof: a description, checklist, and optional work link. Keep the original files in your own app or notebook; saving a project record does not upload them.

Get your materialsDownload practice filesSupplied practice cases, a blank working record, complete lesson instructions, and annotated worked examples.
Make your projectView the project checklist Work in your own notebook, document, or software. Use the supplied practice examples when you prefer.
Keep a private recordSave a project record Sign in to save a description and checklist, then return to update them.

Course handbook

Know the route before you begin.

Here’s what you’ll need and what you’ll make. You can return to this guide during any lesson.

Who this is for

Learners aged 14+ building subject foundations and practical independence. Adults can use the same supplied cases.

Prepare before lesson one

Use paper or a free text document; every core input is supplied in the lessons.
A basic calculator is optional; show the method, units and checks.
Suggested earlier course: Explain How Cells Support Living Things

Your final project

Finish with proof you can use.

A fictional plant inheritance notebook with DNA-to-protein explanations, simple inheritance crosses and a distinction between probability and certainty.

Save a project record in My Proof

See project checklist and review criteria

Keep your working files in your own notebook or software. Save a private description, checklist, and work link in My Proof.

What to include

Label the fictional chromosomes, gene, alleles and trait.
Trace the supplied DNA template through RNA and the codon key.
Separate inherited information from supplied environmental effects.
Build the two modeled inheritance crosses.
Explain genotype versus phenotype probabilities and expected counts.
Correct the nursery overclaims and include all changed cases.

Review and revise

Use these criteria to check your work and choose what to improve.

Method: applies the course-specific rules to the supplied cases with visible intermediate work.
Accuracy: results agree with the stated facts, units, boundaries and independent checks.
Reasoning: explains why the result follows and identifies a limitation or unresolved question.
Transfer: completes changed cases and revises the final project when a relevant assumption changes.

Three ideas to help you along the way

Three useful ideas

The rules behind the steps.

Use the supplied mechanism

DNA carries biological information. A chromosome is a long DNA molecule with associated proteins; a gene is a DNA region whose expression produces a functional product. Alleles are versions of a gene. A trait is an observed characteristic influenced by genes, environment or both. These are different levels, not interchangeable words.

Connect the middle steps

An inherited allele is received through biological reproduction; an acquired change happens during an individual organism’s life. Environment can influence the expression of inherited traits without rewriting the inherited allele labels in the supplied model. Appearance alone may not identify the genotype.

Explain the final boundary

A final model should connect information storage, expression and inheritance while keeping assumptions visible. A simple grid can answer a narrow probability question; it cannot explain every trait, identify a person’s ancestry or diagnose a condition. Revise the question when evidence falls outside the model.

What do these words mean?

Key words

Key terms worth knowing.

Gene: A DNA region expressed to produce a functional product.
Allele: A version of a gene.
Genotype: The recorded allele combination at a specified location.
Phenotype: An observed characteristic influenced by genetic and environmental conditions.
Transcription: Production of RNA using DNA information.
Translation: Use of RNA information to construct an amino-acid chain.

Your route

6 lessons.
One useful project.

Work in order the first time. Each lesson makes something the next lesson can use.

Use the tools

Tools to help you practice.

See all tools

ZIP · practice files

Follow Genetic Information and Inheritance practice files

Supplied practice cases, a blank working record, complete lesson instructions, and annotated worked examples.

Text worksheet

Your course project worksheet

A downloadable text worksheet with each lesson’s working output, space for your answers, and the shared final-project checklist. Save your own copy.

Source transparency

Sources and further study.

Explore the references behind the lessons and take your learning further. Source notes explain access and reuse.

OpenStax: DNA structure

Source & access notes · checked 2026-10-01

Web open/search showed the official page, its topic heading and relevant concept description. This is a content/source check, not a provider endorsement.