Science at key stage 3 (Year 9)

Unit 9A: Inheritance and selection

Objectives

Section 1: What characteristics can be inherited?
Children should learn:

that offspring are similar but not identical to their parents
that some characteristics are inherited
that these variations occur in both plants and animals

View related activities and outcomes

Section 2: Why are offspring of the same parents similar but not identical?
Children should learn:

that cells have nuclei which contain information that is transferred from one generation to the next
that during fertilisation genetic information from male and female parents is combined
that the fusion of male and female sex-cell nuclei in both animals and plants produces a new individual that is genetically unique
how sperm and egg cells are specialised
that fertilisation is similar in plants and animals

View related activities and outcomes

Section 3: a. How do differences between offspring with the same parents compare with differences between offspring of different parents?
Children should learn:

to decide which observations and measurements to make
to design tables to record data
to use spreadsheets to analyse data and draw graphs
to draw conclusions about variation within and between varieties

View related activities and outcomes

Section 4: b. How do differences between offspring with the same parents compare with differences between offspring of different parents?
Children should learn:

that variations can arise from environmental differences

View related activities and outcomes

Section 5: How are new breeds of animal produced?
Children should learn:

that selective breeding involves choosing individuals with particular inherited characteristics to mate
that different breeds of animal have been produced by selective breeding
that selective breeding results in new varieties of plants and animals

View related activities and outcomes

Section 6: Checking progress
Children should learn:

to bring together ideas about inherited characteristics and fertilisation
to identify reasons for variation between individuals
that selective breeding can produce individuals with particular characteristics

View related activities and outcomes

Section 7: Why do farmers produce new breeds of animals?
Children should learn:

to appraise texts quickly and effectively for their usefulness
to make precise links and connections within their own writing
that domestic farm animals have been bred to possess 'desirable' characteristics

View related activities and outcomes

Section 8: a. How are new varieties of plant produced?
Children should learn:

that plant breeders select healthy plants with particular characteristics to breed from

View related activities and outcomes

Section 9: b. How are new varieties of plant produced?
Children should learn:

that fertilisation of an ovule by a pollen cell produces a new individual
to suggest how selective pollination could be brought about

View related activities and outcomes

Section 10: Are varieties produced by selective breeding different from each other?
Children should learn:

to frame questions to be investigated
to choose an appropriate sample size
to decide what methods and apparatus to use
to draw conclusions and evaluate these

View related activities and outcomes

Section 11: What is a clone?
Children should learn:

that, in cloning, all genetic information comes from one parent
to consider some of the ethical issues relating to cloning
to ask questions to extend their thinking and refine ideas

View related activities and outcomes

Section 12: Reviewing work
Children should learn:

to bring together ideas about inherited characteristics, fertilisation and selective breeding

View related activities and outcomes

Sections in this unit

This unit is divided into sections. Each section contains a sequence of activities with related objectives and outcomes. You can view this unit by moving through the sections or print/download the whole unit.


	1. What characteristics can be inherited?
	2. Why are offspring of the same parents similar but not identical?
	3. a. How do differences between offspring with the same parents compare with differences between offspring of different parents?
	4. b. How do differences between offspring with the same parents compare with differences between offspring of different parents?
	5. How are new breeds of animal produced?
	6. Checking progress
	7. Why do farmers produce new breeds of animals?
	8. a. How are new varieties of plant produced?
	9. b. How are new varieties of plant produced?
	10. Are varieties produced by selective breeding different from each other?
	11. What is a clone?
	12. Reviewing work