Teacher Notes: Canine Case Studies
Overview and Concepts
Overview
This activity is divided into two case studies. In the first case study, students will
use a pedigree to solve a problem about a genetic disorder in a specific dog breed.
In the second case study, students will use maps, graphs, and DNA sequencing to
determine what animal “meat” is being used in two different brands of dog food.
Grade levels
Grades 9-12 (introduction biology course)
Concepts covered
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Pedigree analysis
Map interpretation
Graphing interpretation
DNA sequencing
Prior Knowledge required
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Students should know what a pedigree is an how to analyze one
Students should have an understanding of genotypes and phenotypes
Students should have an understanding of recessive and dominant alleles
Students should understand the structure of DNA
Students should know how to draw and interpret graphs
Important Terms
o Pedigree
o DNA
o Nucleotides
o Genotype
o Recessive
o Dominant
o Inbreeding
Learning Objectives
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Students will be able to identify genotypes, phenotypes, inheritance patterns,
and family relationships using a pedigree.
Students will be able to use maps to identify location of particular whale and
shark species in order to solve a problem.
Students will be able to use BLAST to identify the species of a nucleotide
sequence.
Students will be able to use graphs to help solve a problem.
Activity Notes
Time Frame
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Case study one will take about 30 minutes
Case study two will take about an hour or more depending on how much
time is spent explaining BLAST (BLAST will need to be explained before
completing this section)
Teaching Tips
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Make sure the students have had practice with pedigrees before completing
this activity.
You may want to do a quick activity using BLAST before completing this case
study.
More time may be needed for an academic biology class, especially if
students have a hard time reading graphs.
This case study can be done individually or in small groups. It could possibly
be completed as an entire class with room for class discussion.
Make sure you have enough computers in your classroom for the BLAST
portion of the case study.
Extensions
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You could use the sequences given to have the students look at the
phylogenic relationships between the organisms they were looking at. You
may want to provide them with more organisms if you are going to do this.
Depending on the level class, you could have the students make their own
case studies using BLAST.
Resources
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Dog Food advisor: Has articles and information about dog food.
http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-industry-exposed/grains-in-dog-food1/
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Pet Food safety alliance
http://www.pfpsa.org/news.html
Acknowledgments
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"Shark." New World Encyclopedia, . 4 Apr 2008, 01:08 UTC. 20 Jul 2012, 11:14
<http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?title=Shark&oldid=6
87722>.
Trends in Ecology. Volume 27, Issue 8, Pages 415-472. August 2012. Elsevier
Ltd. 20. Jul 2012