1. Lesson 1
Завдання до уроку з теми “Human variability”
Students have to read the definitions and be ready to fill in the chart, defining
the characteristics as inherited or environmental.
Human variability
Human variability, or human variation, is the range of possible values for any
characteristic, physical or mental of human beings.
Inherited and non-inherited Characteristics
Inherited (heritable) characteristics are those traits which are passed on
to offspring directly from their parents. These traits are passed on by way of
the genetic material that is combined from the parents during the process of
sexual reproduction. Heritable traits include, structural and distinguishing
characteristics, such as eye colour, hair type, skin color and earlobes.
Non-inherited characteristics are acquired and not necessarily passed on
from generation to generation. Athleticism, artistic ability, leadership qualities
are all learned during the early years of life.
Environmental Variation
Environmental variation is the ability of an organism to alter greatly its
phenotype depending upon environmental conditions.
2. TASK 1: Students have to decide if a characteristic is an example of inherited or
environmental variations
Copy these variations and write if they are inherited or environmental:
Hair colour( natural)
Hair length
Language
Eye colour
Gender
Weight
Skin colour
Religion
Form of the ears
Tattoos
Keys
Hair colour( natural) Inherited
Hair length Environmental
Language Environmental
Eye colour Inherited
Gender Inherited
Weight Environmental
Skin colour Inherited
Religion Environmental
Form of the ears Inherited
Tattoos Environmental
Task 2 Let’s try and make up a short summing up.
Fill the gaps with the following words: environmental factors, physical, culture,
habitat, genetic variation, genes, variability,
Human variability and its variations
Human __________, or human variation, is the range of possible values for any
characteristic, __________ or mental of human beings.
_________________ is a variation due to _________ inherited from the
parents.
Environmental variation is a variation caused by ____________________ such
as __________, climate, __________, or competition from other species.
