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Genetics Teacher Resources
Find teacher approved Genetics educational resource ideas and activities
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In this genetics lesson, middle schoolers read a story and use the characteristics of a fictitious monster to construct a genetic profile. Students then use a Punnett Square to predict the outcomes of their monster family given a particular set of phenotypes. The lesson culminates with a creative writing project.
Because it is heavily focused on the contributors to DNA theory, this worksheet may be more of an enrichment than a fundamental support to your genetics curriculum. Though it does query learners about DNA structure, replication, and metabolic pathways, these topics do not make up the bulk of the material. The handout was created as a reading guide, but can be used as a note-taking guide should you decide to lecture on this information.
Students examine the technologies that make genetic manipulation possible and discuss situations in which genetic manipulation could solve a problem. After research, the class debates the positive and negative arguments of the ethical issues surrounding the use of genetic manipulation.
Investigate ethical issues surrounding the Decode project in Iceland. Middle and high schoolers take the positions of the Icelandic government, scientific researchers, and citizens and defend or refute the Decode project in a Reykjavik town hall meeting.
After looking at the many aspects of the issues behind genetic testing, young scholars are exposed to the pros and cons and must take a stand by writing a position paper. They will view the "Who Gets to Know?" video and/or reading case studies from the Our Genes/Our Choices series.
Trace simple genetic patterns of inheritance through a small population. Your learners create a family pedigree that traces a genetic condition through several generations.
Nine pages of material on inheritance make up this handout. It begins with a reading on alleles and how they can result in albinism. A chromosome modeling activity and questions follow. Junior geneticists learn to complete Punnett squares and participate in a coin toss simulation of allele pairing. They also learn about sex determination, sickle-cell anemia, and pedigree analysis. This resource provides a variety of activities and information to support several days worth of genetics instruction.
Imagine a pair of dragons that produce offspring and determine the percentage of the hatchlings have wings and large antlers. This fantastic activity draws genetics learners in, introduces them to alleles, meiosis, phenotypes, genotypes, and teaches them how to use Punnett squares. The exercises also illustrate the law of independent assortment and linked genes. The handout is ten pages long and will take days to work through, but it will definitely keep learners engaged!
Parts of the cell as well as genetic material begin this presentation. As the slides continue, there are explanations of the main terms used in genetics. The structure of genetic material, chromosomes, and replication are summarized. Next, there are slides explaining dominance, traits, mutation, breeds and crosses. There is a lot of information given with a good level of detail, making this PowerPoint a great addition to a series of classes or as review.
Comprehend that many human characteristics-all physical traits and possibly many personality traits-are determined by our genetic makeup. These activities demonstate that all physical traits are genetically determined, some evidence shows that certain personality traits are determined by conditions and events that occur after a person's birth.