"Natural Science 4" is an interactive encyclopedia that includes scientific information in the understanding of fourth grade students, wonderfully illustrated and animated.
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www. edituraedu.ro
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* Chapter 1 Lesson 1 *
* Parents and descendants in the living world *
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The living world is characterized by an amazing variety. Millions of different species of plants and animals live on our planet.
Based on their physical characteristics and behavior, animals are classified into several major groups. For example, most mammals have hairy bodies and feed their cubs with milk. Birds have feathers and wings, reptiles have bodies covered with thick, scaly skin, and fish have gills and fins that help them live under the water.
We can easily group flowers and trees from a painting, we can choose between conifers and deciduous trees, starting from the common characteristics of each species.
However, there are differences between animals or plants belonging to the same group. For example, here's how different all these birds are.
Have you ever wondered what determines the similarities and differences between living things?
The answer is… HEREDITY… meaning the transmission of characteristics from one generation to another.
These characteristics include the shape of the eyes, the height, the color a cat’s fur, the shape of a bird’s beak, the length of a bunny’s ears. They are also called HEREDITARY TRAITS.
Between parents and descendants there are similarities, but also differences.
Look at this family!
Ioana inherited her hair color from her father, and the eye color from her mother. Andrei has the same nose and chin shape as his father, but inherited his mother's hair color.
What traits did you inherit from your mother? But from your father? Which of your skills are inherited from your parents?