Table 2.

Course of study in Japanese junior high school on science content related to genetics: Continuity of life.

Unit	Goals and content	Notes
Cell division and biological growth	Students observe how creatures grow. Students understand the characteristics of sexual and asexual reproduction Students understand that parental traits are transmitted to their offspring as the organism grows	1. Teachers mention that chromosomes are replicated 2. Sexual reproduction mechanisms should be linked to meiosis
Genetic regularity and genes	Based on the results of the mating experiment, students will understand the regularity of the parent’s trait when it is transmitted to the offspring Students understand that the trait is transmitted from parent to offspring via genes on the chromosomes and the rules of segregation	1. Focusing on one trait, the teacher instructs the student on how the trait is transmitted to the offspring and grandchildren 2. Students find the rules of heredity and understand how they work
Diversity and evolution of species	By comparing existing creatures and fossils, students understand that a wide variety of existing creatures is the result of the transformation of past creatures over a long period of time, in connection with body construction	1. Teachers should deal with evidence of evolution and specific examples of evolution 2. Teachers should note that living creatures have characteristics that favor living in their habitat 3. Teachers should also note that traits may change due to changes in genes

Source: The standard for education curriculum announced by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.