Unit 8
Mendelian Genetics
Mendelian Genetics (15 Days)
Enduring Understanding: Mendelian genetics provides the basis for understanding the inheritance of
traits. Inheritance patterns among living organisms are often more complex than simple Mendelian
genetics.
Essential Questions
What are the uses of a Punnett
square? (2 days)
What are Mendel’s three laws
(principles) of genetics? (3 days)
SC.912.L.16.1: Use Mendel's laws of segregation and
independent assortment to analyze patterns of
inheritance.
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Required topic: Understanding
Mendelian principles through
Punnett squares
Students will describe the following terms: genotype,
phenotype, dominant, recessive.
Students will explain the functions of a Punnett square.
Students will explain how laws of probability can be used
to predict the results of genetic crosses.
Students will explain Mendel’s law of dominance.
Students will explain Mendel’s law of segregation through
a monohybrid cross.
Students will explain the function of a test cross.
Students will explain Mendel’s law of independent
assortment through a dihybrid cross.
Suggested Lab: Genetic Corn Lab (see teacher resource page)
Essential Questions
Do the allele frequencies of
certain dominant and recessive
traits influence how they are
inherited? (1 day)
SC.912.L.16.2: Discuss observed inheritance patterns
caused by various modes of inheritance, including
dominant, recessive, codominant, sex-linked,
polygenic, and multiple alleles.
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How are codominance and
incomplete dominance different
from simple Mendelian
inheritance? (1 day)
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What are sex-linked traits? (1 day)
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What is the difference between
inheritance involving multiple
alleles and polygenic inheritance?
(1 day)
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What is the difference between
pleiotropy and epistasis? (1 day)
What are the functions of a
pedigree chart? (1 day)
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Students will describe how dominant alleles may not be
the most common in a population (polydactylism).
Students will explain how some disorders may be due to
dominant alleles and how they are inherited.
Students will describe the role of carriers in the production
of recessive disorders.
Students will explain codominance (AB blood type, roan
cattle).
Students will explain incomplete dominance
(snapdragons).
Students will explain the inheritance of sex-linked traits
(hemophilia, color-blindness)
Students will explain how multiple alleles affect
inheritance (ABO blood type).
Students will describe how polygenic inheritance can result
in a continuum of phenotypes (skin color, height).
Students will explain how a gene may have multiple
phenotypic effects (pleiotropy).
Students will explain how one gene may affect the
expression of another (epistasis).
Students will analyze inheritance patterns through the use
of a pedigree chart.
1. What kinds of
information can a
karyotype provide
versus a pedigree chart?
(1 day)
2. Explain the importance
of pre-natal genetic
screening. (1 day)
3. What are the social
implications of genetic
screening? (2 days)
HE.912.C.1.4 Analyze how heredity and family history can
impact personal health.
 Students will differentiate between karyotyping and
pedigree analysis
 Students will explain the importance of pre-natal
genetic screenings
 Students will be able to link diseases to specific
heritable traits
◦ Reese Factor, sickle cell anemia, Albinism,cystic
fibrosis, tay sach's, etc.
 Students will be able to discuss the social implications
of Genetic screening and the Human Genome Project.