Pedigrees (Essential Standard 3)
Lesson Summary & Context
The purpose of this lesson is to provide application to genetics and inheritance.
Pedigrees are used in today’s world to predict the possibility of genetically inherited
diseases, for this reason it is important for students to know and understand how those
predictions are made. This lesson will focus on how to construct a pedigree, how one is
read, and then how one can be used to make predictions. Students will work through a
variety of practice problems, and ultimately create a family pedigree that demonstrates
inheritance patterns of dominant and recessive traits.
North Carolina Essential Standards

Essential Standard 3.2: Understand how the environment and/or the interaction of
alleles, influences the expression of genetic traits
21st Century Skills

Critical Thinking: During the warm-up activity students will be asked to draw a
visual of how genetic inheritance occurs. Then throughout the note taking session
students will be required to make predictions about pedigrees and how they are
used in today’s society and why they are so important in today’s medical field .
Student Outcomes (TSWBAT)
Lesson 1
 The student will be able to label the parts of a pedigree
 The student will be able to read a pedigree, identifying individuals who have a trait,
who do not and who are carriers
 Students will be able to predict offspring ratios using Punnett squares and then
filling in pedigree
 Students will be able to construct a pedigree
Materials
Lesson 1
 White paper, marker, pencils, rulers
 Family information for pedigree
 PowerPoint
 NOVA video
Teaching Activities
Lesson 1
Pedigrees (Essential Standard 3)
1. Draw a visual/picture, in notes or on white boards to describe how our traits are
inherited and where they come from. Share with your partner (coloring utensils
are set out)—7 min
2. Build a pedigree—In an interactive lecture, students will learn how to make, use
and read pedigrees. Students will be prompted with questions to consider along
the way that will reinforce why the material is important and relevant to them.
The note taking session will also include practice problems for students to work out
along the way. (20min)
3. NOVA video—on Tay-Sachs (Honors) demonstrates why pedigrees are important
and goes a bit more in depth for more advanced students.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/genome/media/2809_q056_03.html
4. Practice problems- Standard will work to create a pedigree from a written story
and then written descriptions. Honors students will do the same assignment and
have an additional set up practice problems that will take practice a step further
to provide an extra challenge.—20 minutes (standard), 20 min (Honors)
5. Family Pedigree Project—students will take obtained information from their
families and use it to construct a three generational family pedigree in regards to
common dominant and recessive traits. –remaining time
Assessments
Formative Assessments
 Practice Problems
 Predictions made along the way
Summative Assessment
 Family Pedigree Project
 Weekly quiz
Modifications/Enrichments


Students will receive the required materials as mandated by their IEP or LEP, for
the majority of these students this requires a copy of teacher notes and
PowerPoint slides.
Honors students will also be required to complete all activities, where as the
standard class will be offered a few for extra credit points.