Science Assessment ~ Topics ~ Reproduction, Genes, and Heredity ~ NGSS Link LS3.A-M.1

Genes are located in the chromosomes of cells, with each chromosome pair containing two variants of each of many distinct genes. Each distinct gene chiefly controls the production of specific proteins, which in turn affects the traits of the individual. Changes (mutations) to genes can result in changes to proteins, which can affect the structures and functions of the organism and thereby change traits.

Items associated with this NGSS statement in this project (Evolution) and other key ideas
RH015002	The information in DNA molecules provides instructions for assembling amino acids into protein molecules.
RH024007	Both an organism's physical characteristics and the function of the organism's cells could be affected by the information in the organism's DNA molecules (no specific organism identified).
RH019003	The way DNA and proteins are related is that DNA provides information for making proteins.
042004	Genes are responsible for an organism's traits.
RH022006	Protein molecules help other molecules get in and out of cells and speed up chemical reactions in cells.
RH022007	Protein molecules help cells carry out many of their functions, and they are part of body structures such as hair and nails.
RH023009	Both an organism's physical characteristics and the function of the organism's cells could be influenced by the actions of protein molecules in an organism's cells (no specific organism identified).
RH020003	DNA provides information for both the types and sequence of amino acids that make up a protein molecule.