Genetics Unit

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Goals and Objectives

Unit IV: Genetics

Goal 1 – The Student will demonstrate the ability to use evidence to support the idea that through reproduction (sexual and asexual) genetic traits are passed from one generation to the next.

Objectives:

• The student will be able to explain why offspring are not identical to the parents in sexually reproducing organisms.
• The student will be able to distinguish among genes, chromosomes, and traits.
• The student will be able to compare inherited traits with traits that are the result of an interaction between genes and the environment.
• The student will be able to compare acquired traits and traits that result from and interaction between an organism's environment and the organism's genes.
• The student will be able to apply basic knowledge of Punnett squares to predict possible traits in offspring

Goal 2 – The student will demonstrate the ability to describe how humans use selective breeding to develop plants and animals with desired traits.

Objectives:

• The student will be able to describe techniques Mendel used to predict traits in future generations.

• The student will be able to explain how scientific knowledge about inheritance is used to produce new variations of cultivated plants and animals.

Preview:

Over the course of many sessions, we will cover Mendelian genetics and examine how traits are passed from one generation to the next. Prior to this unit, students must be familiar with taking notes in outline format, basic instruction in use of a computer, and have a basic understanding of cell processes.

Materials:

• Computer with Internet access.
• Two web sites:

DNA from the Beginning: http://www.dnaftb.org/dnaftb/1/concept/.

Genscope: http://genscope.concord.org/ (You will have to download the Genscope program to the computers you will be using, but it is free.)

• Paper and pencil
• Direction sheets

Time:

Six one-hour sessions

Procedures:

This unit will be broken up into sections. The first section will involve the DNA from the Beginning web site and will take approximately three one-hour sessions in the computer lab. Students will take notes as they work through the sections on the site. All directions are in the student direction sheets. At the end of this section the students will take an open-note assessment on genetics.

The second section will involve the use of the Genscope program. You must make sure the program is downloaded and working in each computer you use with the students. There are direction packets and student forms to complete. Students will follow the directions and complete the questions on the student forms. This section will take approximately three one-hour sessions.

Link to Genscope directions and student forms

It is important that you work through each of these web sites first since some of it can be tricky, especially the Genscope program. The web site gives excellent resources, directions and other programs you can use with a more expanded unit.