Genetics

Developed with Stacey Reed at Wayland Middle School


Standards Covered:

• Compare sexual reproduction (offspring inherit half of their genes from each parent) with asexual reproduction (offspring is identical copy of parent) [MA-MS-LS-9]. 
• Develop and use a model to describe how asexual reproduction results in offspring with identical genetic information and sexual reproduction results in offspring with genetic variation. Compare and contrast advantages and disadvantages of asexual and sexual reproduction [MS-LS3-2]. 
• Communicate through writing and in diagrams that chromosomes contain many distinct genes, and that each chromosome pair contains two alleles that can be the same or different from each other. Illustrate that each gene holds the instructions for the production of specific proteins, which in turn affects the traits of an individual [MS-LS3-3].
• Develop and use a model to show that in sexually reproducing organisms individuals have two of each chromosome, and hence two alleles of each gene, one acquired (randomly) from each parent [MS-LS3-4]. 
• Develop and use a model to describe that structural change to genes (mutations) may or may not result in changes to proteins, and if there are changes to proteins, there may  be harmful, beneficial, or neutral changes to traits [NGSS-MS-LS3-1]. 
• Recognize that every organism requires a set of instructions that specifies its traits. These instructions are stored in the organism's chromosomes. Heredity is the passage of these instructions from one generation to another. A human cell contains about 30,000 different genes on 23 different chromosomes [MA-MS-LS-7]. 

Lesson 1: In this lesson, we review the history of DNA, including Watson, Crick, and Franklin, and the discovery of the structure of DNA.  We also introduce the idea of base-pairing and nucleic acids. 

 

DNA Origami: 

  Student DNA Origami:

 

 

Genius of Britain DNA Video:

Why are some people Left-Handed? Worksheet:

Lesson 2: This lesson looks at codons and how RNA is translated into DNA.

 

 Protein synthesis video:

Codon Wheel:

 

Amino Acid Chart:

Remember the cookbook!:

Amino Acid Practice Homework: 

 

Function Finders: 

Lesson 3: The students translated their names into amino acid codes, which they decoded into RNA and then DNA and used to create bracelets. 

 DNA Bracelet Organizer:

Student Codon Bracelet:

 

Lesson 4: The students "solved a genetic mystery" about Mrs. Reed's family! This   lesson was an introduction to heredity, dominance, recessives, and Punnett Squares. 

 

 Why are some people Left-Handed? Days 3-4, Classwork: 

Lesson 5: We learned about Gregor Mendel and his peas and the history of genetics, and then worked on some Punnett Squares as a group and individually.

Spongebob Genetics:

Lesson 6: Reebops Day 1: We gave each student an "egg cell" and a "sperm cell" (large Easter eggs and small Easter eggs) with chromosomes in them. They had to match them up in a karyotype and record the matching alleles from each parent Reebop and use those to figure out the phenotypes for each trait and then draw a picture of their baby Reebop.

Warm-up Karyotyping website:

Reebop Worksheet:

Reebop Chromosomes:

 

Example of Filled out Chart:

Student Baby Reebops:

Lesson 7: Reebops Day 2: The students "bred" their Reebops to make a second generation baby Reebop. They used a whiteboard Punnett square and a paperclip "spinner" to decide their second generation Reebop's genotypes. 

 Reebop Part 2 data sheet:

Whiteboard Punnet Squares:

Lesson 8: Reebops Day 3: The students built their Reebops (1st and 2nd generation) out of Play Dough and various craft supplies and took pictures of them to build a family tree. 

Reebop Family Tree Template:

Student Family Trees: