Genetics Open Inquiry Lab #2
7th Grade/Life Science
Grade Level/Subject
Genetics
Unit
Enduring Understanding Characteristics are passed from parents to offspring.
LS.12 The student will investigate and understand that
organisms reproduce and transmit genetic information
to new generations. Key concepts include:
a) the structure and role of DNA;
b) the function of genes and chromosomes;
c) genotypes and phenotypes;
SOL Objectives
d) characteristics that can and cannot be
inherited;
e) genetic engineering and its application; and
historical contributions and significance of
discoveries related to genetics
What’s In There?
Title
For students to conduct Mendel’s experiment prior to
Lesson Objective
studying how Mendel discovered genetic statistics.
Level 2
Inquiry Level
Copy of student lab sheet.
2 M&M® Pods for each student:
1. Cut 2”x2” squares of tin foil, enough for 2/student.
2. Fill the 1st ½ of the squares with 3-5 Plain M&Ms®.
Some pods should have 3, some pods 4, and other
pods 5 so the average is right around 4 Plain
Materials Needed
M&Ms®/pod.
3. Fill the 2nd ½ of the squares with 3-5 Plain M&Ms®
and 0-2 Peanut M&Ms®. The averages should be
about 75% Plain M&Ms® and 25% Peanut
M&Ms®.
Students are provided the question and given the pods. The
students design how to investigate and analyze the number
of M&Ms® in each pod.
This lab should be completed at the beginning of Mendelian
How is it Level 2?
genetics, before introducing Mendel’s experiment. This
should be the introduction to how Mendel began predicting
dominant and recessive traits.
Name: __________________________________________________________________
What’s In There?
IV:__________________________________________________________
(What are the things you are asking a question about? What have you changed in different steps of the
experiment?)
DV:__________________________________________________________
(What are you counting/measuring in the experiment?)
Problem: ____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
(Write a question about which type of M&M® grows the most.)
Hypothesis: __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
(Write an “If __, then __ “ statement that answers your question.)
Materials and Methods:
Materials:
 1 Plain M&M® Tree
 1 Peanut M&M® Tree
Procedures:
 A Plain M&M® tree was self-pollinated for many generations to create a
purebred plain M&M® tree. A Peanut M&M® tree was also self-pollinated
for many generations to create a purebred peanut M&M® tree.
 The purebred plain M&M® and purebred peanut M&M® trees were cross
pollinated.
 The offspring were gathered to be analyzed.
 A second cross pollination occurred between the offspring of the original
cross. The offspring were gathered to also be analyzed.
Data:
Directions: Look at the F1 generation. Record the results, and create an explanation for
the results. Once you have the information from your group, Type your results in the
computer spreadsheet to display to the class.
F1 Number of M&M® in Pod
1
2
3
4
5
6
Total
%
Plain
Peanut
Directions: Look at the F2 generation. Record the results, and create an explanation for
the results. Once you have the information from your group, Type your results in the
computer spreadsheet to display to the class.
F2 Number of M&M®’s in Pod
1
Plain
Peanut
2
3
4
5
6
Total
%
Analysis: Respond to each of the questions with a complete sentence that
describes the question in the answer.
1. What percentage of the F1 generation is plain M&M®s? What percentage of the
F1 generation is peanut M&M®s?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. What percentage of the F2 generation is plain M&M®s? What percentage of the
F2 generation is peanut M&M®s?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. How do these percentages correspond to the laws of probability? _____________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
4. What trends and patterns are emerging from the results of the two crosspollinations? _______________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Conclusion: Answer the questions in complete sentences that include the
question in the answer.
1. What was surprising about the data? Why was it surprising?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. Why is it necessary to gather information from the entire class, not just the results
of one group? Would the information change if results were gathered from the
entire team of students? ______________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. What could be happening so no peanut M&M® are in the F1 generation, but then
show up in the F2 ? _________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
4. How does this experiment relate to Mendel’s pea experiment?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Name: __________________________________________________________________
What’s In There?
IV:__________________________________________________________
(What are the things you are asking a question about? What have you changed in different steps of the
experiment?)
DV:__________________________________________________________
(What are you counting/measuring in the experiment?)
Problem: ____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
(Create a Problem about which type of M&M® grows the most..)
Hypothesis: __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
(Write a Hypothesis that answers your question).
Materials and Methods:
Materials:
 1 Plain M&M® Tree
 1 Peanut M&M® Tree
Procedures:
 A Plain M&M® tree was self-pollinated for many generations to create a
purebred plain M&M® tree. A Peanut M&M® tree was also self-pollinated
for many generations to create a purebred peanut M&M® tree.
 The purebred plain M&M® and purebred peanut M&M® trees were cross
pollinated.
 The offspring were gathered to be analyzed.
 A second cross pollination occurred between the offspring of the original
cross. The offspring were gathered to also be analyzed.
Data:
Directions: Look at the F1 generation. Record the results, and create an explanation for
the results. Once you have the information from your group, Type your results in the
computer spreadsheet to display to the class.
F1 Number of M&M® in Pod
1
2
3
4
5
6
Total
%
Plain
Peanut
Directions: Look at the F2 generation. Record the results, and create an explanation for
the results. Once you have the information from your group, Type your results in the
computer spreadsheet to display to the class.
F2 Number of M&M®’s in Pod
1
Plain
Peanut
2
3
4
5
6
Total
%
Analysis: Respond to each of the questions with a complete sentence that
describes the question in the answer.
1. Identify the percentage of plain and peanut M&M®s in the F1 generation.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. Identify the percentage of plain and peanut M&M®s in the F2 generation.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. Explain how those percentages relate to the laws of probability.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
4. Identify trends and patterns emerging from the results of the two crosspollinations. _______________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Conclusion: Answer the questions in complete sentences and include the
question in the answer.
1. Explain what was surprising about the data? Why was it surprising?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. What inconsistencies may have occurred if the data was gathered from only one
group? Explain how information gathered from all of the groups influenced the
accuracy of the data? ________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. Tell what is happening so there are no peanut M&M®s in the F1 generation, but
they are present in the F2 generation. ____________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
4. What can you and Gregor Mendel learn from this experiment? What is your
conclusion? _______________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Name: __________________________________________________________________
What’s In There?
IV:__________________________________________________________
(What are the things you are asking a question about? What have you changed in different steps of the
experiment?)
DV:__________________________________________________________
(What are you counting/measuring in the experiment?)
Problem: ____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
(Create a Problem about plain and peanut M&M®’s).
Hypothesis: __________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
(Write a Hypothesis to the problem).
Materials and Methods:
Materials:
 1 Plain M&M® Tree
 1 Peanut M&M® Tree
Procedures:
 A Plain M&M® tree was self-pollinated for many generations to create a
purebred plain M&M® tree. A Peanut M&M® tree was also self-pollinated
for many generations to create a purebred peanut M&M® tree.
 The purebred plain M&M® and purebred peanut M&M® trees were cross
pollinated.
 The offspring were gathered to be analyzed.
 A second cross pollination occurred between the offspring of the original
cross. The offspring were gathered to also be analyzed.
Data:
Directions: Look at the F1 generation. Record the results, and create an explanation for
the results. Once you have the information from your group, Type your results in the
computer spreadsheet to display to the class.
F1 Number of M&M® in Pod
1
2
3
4
5
6
Total
%
Plain
Peanut
Directions: Look at the F2 generation. Record the results, and create an explanation for
the results. Once you have the information from your group, Type your results in the
computer spreadsheet to display to the class.
F2 Number of M&M®’s in Pod
1
Plain
Peanut
2
3
4
5
6
Total
%
Analysis: Respond to each of the questions with a complete sentence that
describes the question in the answer.
1. Use probability to find the percentage of plain and peanut M&M®s in the F1
generation. ________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
2. Use probability to find the percentage of plain and peanut M&M®s in the F2
generation. ________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. Relate the percentages to the laws of probability. _________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
4. Identify and state a rule for the trends and patterns emerging from the results of
the two cross-pollinations. ___________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Conclusion: Answer the questions in complete sentences using the question
in the answer.
1. What inconsistencies occurred in the data, and create an explanation.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. Compare the information gathered from one group versus the entire class and
develop an explanation of why data was analyzed from all groups.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. Propose and explanation of the number of peanut M&M®s in the F1 generation,
but they are present in the F2 generation.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
4. Compare this experiment to Mendel’s pea experiment.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________