Light, genes and growth

Inside the cells of every living thing there are tiny instructions called genes. Genes help decide traits, such as eye colour, the shape of a leaf or whether a cat has pointed ears. When a plant or animal reproduces, parents pass genes to their offspring. This is why you may have the same hair type as a parent. Each parent gives some of the genes, so offspring are a mix and are not copies. A Sphynx kitten is born with almost no hair because its parents carry genes for that trait, and it will never grow long silky fur like a Birman cat. Desert plants carry genes for surviving with little water, such as deep roots or small leaves. They pass these genes on in their seeds. Traits that you learn, like riding a bike, are not passed on by genes.