3.1 Super Vocab

A. Title

It’s time for super words. To understand the science of DNA and genes, there are some important words we need to know. Our eight vocab words are listed below.


Directions: See if you can guess the word, then click the picture to read the definition and a sample sentence.

mutation - noun

Definition: A small change in a gene that can sometimes cause a difference in how something looks or works.

Sentence: A mutation in a butterfly’s genes gave it a different wing color.

Super DNA 3.1 mutation

gene - noun

Definition: A tiny piece of information inside your body that tells it how to grow and work.

Sentence: I have brown eyes because I got the eye color gene from my parents.

Super DNA 3.1 gene

protein- noun

Definition: A substance your body makes using instructions from your genes; it helps build and repair your body.

Sentence: Your body uses protein to build muscles and stay strong.

Super DNA 3.1 protein

asexual reproduction - noun

Definition: A way some living things make babies using only one parent, and the baby is an exact copy.

Sentence: A starfish can grow a new arm through asexual reproduction!

Super DNA 3.1 asexual reproduction

genetic - adjective

Definition: Something that has to do with genes and how traits are passed down from parents to kids.

Sentence: Having curly hair is a genetic trait that runs in my family.

Super DNA 3.1 genetic

sexual reproduction - noun

Definition: A way living things make babies that need two parents and mix traits from both.

Sentence: In sexual reproduction, a kitten can get stripes from one parent and blue eyes from the other.

Super DNA 3.1 sexual reproduction

engineering - noun

Definition: The process of designing or changing something to make it work better.

Sentence: Scientists are using engineering to find ways to fix broken parts of the body.

Super DNA 3.1 engineering

offspring- noun

Definition: The babies or young that come from parents.

Sentence: A puppy is the offspring of two dogs.

Super DNA 3.1 offspring

B. Practice

Directions: Fill in the blanks below to help practice our key vocabulary. You will only use each word one time.  

Word Bank

gene

mutation

genetic

protein

engineering

sexual Reproduction

offspring

asexual reproduction

C. You Try

Directions: 

  • Pick three words you think will be hard to remember, write them in your mission log. 
  • Use each word in a sentence. 
  • Draw picture to represent each word. 
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