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Genetic Analysis
Students formulate a hypothesis regarding the validity of the current status of the Arizona Hedgehog cactus as a distinct variety of cactus. They design a procedure to isolate DNA from the tissue of plants, given a list of chemicals and...
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DNA Modeling
Students study DNA and its nucleotides. They manipulate paper nucleotides of DNA and investigate how the molecule is produced. Paper versions of sugars, phosphates, and nitrogen bases included.
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DNA Fingerprinting
Students discuss DNA Fingerprinting and gel electrophoresis before participating in a crime solving activity. Students simulate their DNA using adding tape and complete the steps necessary to do a gel electrophoresis. They discuss the...
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DNA Models
Students create DNA models. Using puzzle pieces to represent the parts of a DNA strand, they put together a segment of DNA. Once everyone has completed their individual strand, they being linking with other students using tape. Class...
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Who Is It?/Who Done It?
Students conduct an experiment that allows them to assess individual differences in random DNA sequences and apply those differences when solving a forensic problem. After discussing the polymerase chain reaction and its use to identify...
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What Does Dna Look Like?
Students build DNA strands and practice base pairing rules using an interactive website in this technology-based lesson for a high school science class. This lesson includes links to the interactive website, a worksheet, and a video...
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DNA and Protein Synthesis
Tenth graders work with a partner, and copies of the attached worksheet "Amino Acid Codon Table" They discuss ways an organism, obtains and uses proteins. Students view a teacher prepared DNA strand banner, and record the complementary...
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Genetics and Heredity: The Next Generation
Tenth graders work in teams to order events of DNA transcription and translation protein synthesis. In the second instructional activity, they put the steps of mitosis and meiosis in order using a concept map poster. They use modeling...
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Mendelian and Non-Mendelian Heredity
Tenth graders discuss their physical features, and why they look the way they do. They listen as the teacher discusses DNA, alleles, and dominant or recessive genes. Students perform an experiment with different colored markers...
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DNA Model
High schoolers are able to construct a candy model of DNA. They are able to list all of the parts of DNA that they investigated earlier. Students are able to describe what each part of DNA does. They create an edible model of DNA...
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Science Lesson: Chocolate Flavored Cherries
Students are able to identify start and stop sequences in DNA. They are able to model using restriction enzyme and ligase to remove sections of DNA and reattach them. Students are introduced to the process of recombinat DNA through the...
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Gene Puzzles
Students come to understand that in sexually reproducing organisms, such as humans, typically half of the genes come from each parent.
Students examine a fictional pedigree and determine which gene is responsible for a given trait. The...
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Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis
Tenth graders complete a vocabulary assignment based on terms in the unit. They complete appropriate worksheets as each section of the unit is completed. They participate in classroom discussions. They construct a model of a DNA molecule.
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Simulation of Gene Splicing
Students use the exercise as a prelude to a "wet" lab or as a substitute for such a lab. It correlates well with colony transformation labs. This lab is recommended for students what have difficulty with the abstractions that genetic...
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Ethical Decision Making Model
Students consider the factors that relate to decisions regarding genetic disorders. They read case studies and complete a provided Bio-Ethical Decision-Making Worksheet.
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Sequencing the Cystic Fibrosis Gene: A Simulation
Ninth graders use this activity to simulate the sequencing of gene and to detect the presence of possible genetic defects. They use diagrams that represent bands of nucleotides in order to determine the sequence of a small piece of the...
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Chromosomes and Genetic Mapping
Young scholars are introduced to mapping by crossover frequency. Genes travel as packaged trains on chromosomes. They use this experiment, genetic mapping assignment, that allow students to quickly complete the assignment and yet...
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Codon Bingo
Learners participate in a stimulating game that involves deciphering the genetic code. They practice transcription and translation of codons while playing the game.
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Discovering DNA Structure
Students work in cooperative groups of four and manipulate paper nucleotides to discover the structure of DNA. They model DNA and sing the DNA song to review concepts. Lyrics to song included in lesson plan.
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Macro-DNA: Doing DNA Fingerprinting
Students explore gel electrophoresis using paper models. They model DNA sequences and shade the boxes on their Gel Electrophoresis Sheet which represent the individual fragments.
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DNA Sequencing Simulation
Students explore the Sanger sequencing method which produces a nested set of radioactive fragments from a template strand. They simulate the Sanger method of sequencing DNA, both visually and kinesthetically.
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Time Conceptualization
Students use this activity to establish a new mode of reference to the conceptualization of time. To present hominid evolution in terms of millions of years and endosymbiosis of eukaryotes in billions of years carries little meaning to...
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Viruses and Host Evolution
Students are organized into groups of four. On Day 1 they are given a worksheet about viruses and their effects on the evolution of a rabbit population. After about 30 minutes of group work, a class discussion of the material begins. ...
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Electrophoretic Analysis: DNA Fingerprinting and Evolutionary Divergence
Students examine the principles of electrophoresis. They evaluate both the agarose and polyacrylamide system of molecular separation. In order to bring the concepts of genetics and evolution full circle from DNA to protein, students...