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Genetics Mendelian
Students explore genetic terms, the Law of Dominance and the contributions of Gregor Mendel. After discussing Mendel's lab and his pea plants students observe examples of a phenotype chart. Afterward, they conduct their own lab to...
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Natural Selection And Evolution
Middle schoolers investigate the concept of evolution and how natural selection is used as an indicator that evolution has happened. They recognize the three effects it has on diversity and how adaptations can develop. Diversity is...
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Natural Selection And Evolution
Seventh graders investigate the concept of natural selection and its relationship to the theory of evolution. They conduct research using a variety of resources and use the information to create a class presentation and open up the...
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What Color is Your Colony?
Students conduct an experiment to change the color of E. coli bacteria using genetic engineering. They work in small groups to add a plasmid containing a gene for red pigment to the bacteria and culture the bacteria to see if it ...
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Variety is the Spice of Life
Learners explore Gregor Mendel's work with genetics. They complete a survey of their friends and family in order to identify dominant and recessive traits. Once their surveys are complete, students discuss the ways in which dominant...
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Just Like Me
Students review genetic concept of traits, define and discuss phenotypes and genotypes, examine differences between single gene traits and multiple gene traits, and compare and record phenotypes with every other student in class.
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Genetic Engineering
Students are introduced to the concept of genetic engineering. In groups, they participate in a variety of experiments, in which they analyze the effect of chemicals on different substances. Using the internet, they research gossypol,...
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Real Family Genetics
Students research genetic disease and mutation causing traits in family pedigrees simulated in a class activity. Students are each assigned a genetic trait and a "spouse" and must conduct research on their traits and the probability of...
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Edible DNA
Students use multicolored soft candies (gumdrops and candy orange slices) and toothpicks to create models of DNA structures. They discuss the fact that DNA must copy itself before splitting into two cells. Students demonstrate this by...
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Fun With Genetics!
High schoolers use the internet to research a specific type of genetic problem they have read about. In groups, they use their textbook to analyze the characteristics of new vocabulary and concepts. They develop a solution to the...
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Genetics and Heredity
Students study genetics and heredity. They explore the structure of DNA and genes through a series of activities that includes watching videos, conducting online research, and making vocabulary books. They investigate DNA, genetics,...
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Genetics and Heredity
Middle schoolers explore genetics and heredity. They study meiosis and view videos and create vocabulary flashcards. They create a graphic organizer that compares and contrasts sexual and asexual reproduction in each of the six...
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Genetic Disorders with Cultural Roots: International Insects
Students recognize that certain populations have specific genetic disorders that could benefit or harm them in their environment, work out punnett square problems and infer offspring probabilities from results, and provide advantages and...
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Heredity (Mendelian Genetics)
Students observe and record observations of whether a person is a taster or nontaster. They test selected individuals from their families and peer groups and chart all findings to determine which trait (e.g. taster or non-taster) is...
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Genetic Traits
Students supplement their study of genetics by collecting and analyzing information about their own and their classmates' characteristics and traits. Students create a database of traits and characteristics to compare and contrast.
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The Human Mind
Young scholars read and discuss twin studies to explore the debate of nature vs. nurture. They create a list of characteristics and then look for evidence of whether it is primarily a genetic or environmental characteristic. All of the...
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Biology Assignment on Sex determination
Learners use this activity prior to the introduction of materials on Genetics. They read the article "Becoming a Male, Becoming a Female" in the publication From Egg to Adult. Students then complete the assignment in order to better...
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Use of Hypercard to Create an Interactive Tutorial on Inheritance Patterns
Students use this interactive tutorial program to directly observe a variety of inheritance patterns. They develop mastery over the variety of genetics problems presented. This simulation is designed to promote the acquisition of skill...
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Genes: The Building Blocks of Life
Students examine various topics on genetics. Students explore the Internet to gather information on genetic testing, genetically engineered food, forensics, DNA and cloning. They research and determine the best way to fund each of the...
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Evolution of Biotechnology Timeline
Students explore how present biotechnology has evolved. They create a timeline is included referencing major scientists and major events in history which have led to our current understanding and use. A teacher time line is included.
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Transcription, Translation, and the Genetics of Microbes
Students construct various virus models using Fruit loops and Alphabits to represent nucleotides and molecules. They constructs capsomeres using shoes as the capsomeres and discuss various viruses.
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Gametogenesis and Fertilization
Students explore how this module focuses on part of the cycle of alternation of generations: meiosis to produce haploid spores and fertilization to produce a diploid zygote which grows into the adult plant.
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Improving Literacy in the Biology Classroom via Genetic Disorders
Students read, write and reflect on Science articles, this approach will promote both literacy and critical thinking skills. Critical thinking skills learned in the science classroom from these activities will impact students in many...
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Development in Drosophila melanogaster
Pupils study the least familiar aspect of development in Drosophila melanogaster; the development of the pupa. Students isolate and culture "First-day" pupae. They are dissected daily to study the progressive developmental changes.