Science
SCI.III.3.1
Grade: 8th
Strand III:
Using Scientific Knowledge in Life Science
Standard 3:
Heredity - All students will investigate and explain how
characteristics of living things are passed on through
generations. Explain why organisms within a species are
different from one another; and explain how new traits can be
established by changing or manipulating genes.
Benchmark 1: Explain how characteristics of living things are passed on
from generation to generation.
Constructing and Reflecting:
SCI.I.1.1 – Ask questions that can be investigated empirically.
SCI.I.1.2 – Design and conduct scientific investigations.
SCI.II.1.1 – Justify plans or explanations on a theoretical or empirical basis.
SCI.II.1.3 – Show how common themes of science, mathematics and technology apply in real world contexts.
Vocabulary
Context
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Common contexts:
• Inheritance of a human genetic disease/disorder:
sickle cell anemia
• A family tree focused on certain traits
• Examining animal or plant pedigrees
• Human Genome Project
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Dominant
Recessive
Gene pair
Gene combination
Gene sorting
Homozygous
Heterozygous
Genotype
Phenotype
Allele
Genetic engineering
Selective breeding
Sex linked genes, traits, diseases,
disorders
Autosomes
Sex chromosomes
Diploid
Haploid
Mitosis
Meiosis
Crossing over
Punnett Square
Pedigree
Gregor Mendel
Monohybrid Cross
Dihybrid Cross
Human Genome Project
Knowledge and Skills
Students will:
• Diagram how the gene pair in one parent
will separate, making sex cells that will
combine with sex cells from the other
parent to form offspring.
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Predict the characteristics of possible
offspring, given the gene combinations of
the parents.
Trace a trait from generation to generation
(e.g. sickle cell anemia).
Students will use Punnett squares to
predict possible outcomes of different
genetic combinations
Resources
Coloma Resources:
Holt Science & Technology
Book C Chapter 3 pg 54-83
Other Resources:
• Scope – Fundamentals of Genetics
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National Human Genome Research Institute
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PBS Series Online – The DNA Files
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Web Genetics Resource Page
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Isolate your own DNA – and other labs from the
Museum of Science and Industry
www.msichicago.org
Brain Pop – online movies
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www.biologycorner.com
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Michigan Teacher Network – 18 resources for
genetics education
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Punnett Practice Page
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Fruit fly and Rapid radish kits
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DNA model
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Science sleuths video disc- Twins or not program
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Mitosis and Meiosis slides
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Howard Hughes Medical Institute – incredible
free resources
Resources
Videoconferences Available
For more information, see www.remc11.k12.mi.us/dl
or call Janine Lim 471-7725x101 or email
jlim@remc11.k12.mi.us
III.3.HS.1
• Genetics: Mendel’s Peas from the Camden
Children's Garden
• Agricultural Biotechnology from the Center for
Agricultural Science and Heritage, Inc.
• Genetically Profiling Cancer from COSI
Columbus
• Genetic Counseling: What You Should Know
About Your Family History from COSI Columbus
• The Gene Scene from Discovery Center of
Springfield
• Genetic Revolution from HealthSpace Cleveland
• Behind the Story: The Genetics of Fairytales from
Hook's Discovery & Learning Center
• In The News - Genetically Modified Organisms
from Hook's Discovery & Learning Center
• 2025: A Genetic Odyssey from Indiana State
Museum
Instruction
Assessment
• Create a pedigree chart based on a given
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characteristic (attached and free ear lobes,
sickle cell anemia, tongue rolling, etc.)
Identify dominant and recessive gene
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combinations (e.g. aa, Aa, AA, A?-can’t be
determined) for individuals on the chart.
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Extension: Predict the possible gene
combinations for a cross with one of your
offspring and a recessive individual.
Teachers should be aware that this only
works for single allele traits (not hair color,
eye color, etc.).
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Blood typing kits
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Genotype comparison lab
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Probability labs
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Punnett squares
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Given a pedigree chart with phenotypes listed
for all individuals, provide the gene combinations
for all individuals (e.g. aa, AA, Aa, A?).
Each student will pick a genetic trait and build a
pedigree for their family. The must also do the
possible Punnett squares for the parent’s
offspring.
Students will write a report on a genetic disorder
using the Internet to research symptoms and
which chromosome the disorder is located on.
Corresponds to Standard I.1.5 & I.1.4
Criteria Apprent.
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Meets
Exceeds
Completeness
of list
Identifies
condition
and zero to
one healthy
behaviors
with
appropriate technology.
Identifies
condition
and two
healthy
behaviors
with
appropriate technology.
Identifies
condition
and three
healthy
behaviors
with
appropriate
technology.
Identifies
condition
and four
or more
healthy
behaviors
with
appropriate
technology.
Completeness of
dialogue
Conversation is
incomplete
and/or not
believable.
Conversation has
main ideas
but no
details.
It is not
quite
believable.
Conversation
has main
ideas and
some
details.
It is
believable.
Conversation
has main
ideas,
many
details,
and is
very
believable.
• Genetic corn
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Basic
Analyzing karotypes
Science Olympiad-Process Skills for Life
Science (Bio Lab) See Appendix
Teacher Notes:
Focus Question: How can a trait be traced from generation to generation?
Investigate and explain how characteristics of living things are passed on through
generations.
Like produces like. To enable a child to understand why grandparents claim that they look just like their
parents at their age requires many learning experiences. Elementary students should be able to provide
evidence that visible traits are passed on from parents to children by comparisons of color, structure, and
direct measurements. They should be able to match offspring to corresponding parents.
By middle school, students should know how characteristics of living things are passed from generation to
generation. Common traits controlled by a single gene pair should be taught in the middle school years as well
as the reproductive cells which facilitate this happening. They should be aware that when the sperm fertilizes
the egg, the sperm passes the genetic material (genes) of the father to the egg. The genes of the father's
sperm and mother's egg then contribute to the formation of an entirely new individual having characteristics
from both parents.
Students at the high school level should understand that genes occur and act in pairs. If a dominant gene is
present, it is fully expressed. A recessive gene will not be expressed in the presence of a dominant gene. A
cross or combination of other gene pairs can show what future generations may inherit, or predict those
chances of traits being exhibited such as sickle cell anemia and other genetic disorders.
Explain why organisms within a species are different from one another.
The characteristics of offspring are not only determined by the heredity from the parents. There are acquired
traits like spoken language, size of a superfertilized plant vs. a tundra plant, or length of hair, which contributes
to the individuality of the offspring. High school students should also be aware of how genetic material is
passed from parent to offspring during sexual and asexual reproduction. Cell division of non-sexual cells or
somatic cells is an essential process to the growth of an organism as well as a species. Cell division is
comprised of two processes. Division of the nucleus of the non-sexual cell is called mitosis which is
immediately followed by the division of the cytoplasm and cellular content producing two daughter cells.
Division and replication of the nuclei of the sex cells is called meiosis and is immediately followed by two
consecutive divisions of cytoplasm and cellular content producing four daughter cells.
Explain how new traits can be established by changing or manipulating genes.
How new traits may arise in individuals through changes in genetic material should also be taught during the
high school years. Students might misinterpret genetic changes as only detrimental. Gene or chromosome
mutations or recombination of genes can increase the variations that are seen among individuals in a
population. In order to understand this, the entire DNA molecule and its intricacies of replication need to be
understood. An extension of this could include products of genetic engineering, natural and human produced
mutations, and variations from multiple sets of genes.