Pre Lab
Dragon Genetics Lab – Introduction to Genetics
Define the following terms in your own words:
Homologous –
Phenotype –
Genotype –
Homozygous –
Heterozygous –
Dominant –
Recessive Background Information
Traits are encoded on structures called chromosomes. When a sperm fertilizes an egg, the resulting offspring
should receive an equal number of chromosomes from mom and dad. A pair of homologous dragon
chromosomes is show below. Determine the genotype and phenotype that would result in the offspring of
these two dragons, and fill in the missing information in the data table below.
FIRE BREATHING (F)
BODY COLOR (G)
not fire breathing (f)
body color (g)
TRAIT
Fire breathing or not
Body Color
Spikes (present or absent)
GENOTYPE
Ff
spikes absent (s)
SPIKES PRESENT (S)
PHENOTYPE
Fire breathing
Procedure
In this activity, you will “mate” with a dragon of the opposite gender to create a “baby
dragon.” You will then use your knowledge of genetics to determine the genotype and
phenotype for each of 13 traits in your baby dragon. You will also construct a picture of
your baby dragon.
Steps
1. Select either a dragon egg or sperm from the front of the classroom.
2. Find your mate (the person who as the egg or sperm with the matching number)
3. Remove all of the chromosomes from your respective egg and sperm.
4. Find chromosome #1 (C#1) from both the mates. Pair these two homologous
chromosomes together.
5. Repeat step 3 for each of the remaining homologous chromosomes. At the end of this
step you should have all 4 homologous chromosome pairs that make up your baby
dragon.
6. Using the DRAGON KEY, determine your baby’s genotype and phenotype for all of
the traits listed on the chromosomes. Record this information in the proper spaces of
the DRAGON DATA TABLE.
7. Refer to the phenotypes listed on your data table and include each phenotype on
your drawing of your baby dragon. Be sure to use colors as well.
8. Please return all your materials at the end of this lab activity.
DRAGON KEY
Upper case letters represent dominant alleles;
Lower case letters represent recessive alleles
N – long neck
B – black tail spikes
R – red wings
n – short neck
b – red tail spikes
r – yellow wings
H – horn present
h – horn absent
E – Red eye
e – white eye
W – yellow body
w – white body
S – spikes on end of tail
s – no spikes on end of tail
F – fire breathing
f – not fire breathing
K – freckles
k – no freckles
T – three toes
t – four toes
L – long tail
l – short tail
XX – Female with no ear frills
XY – Male with ear frills
G – Green Body color
g – Blue Body color
Chromosome
pair number
1
2
3
Trait
Neck length
Eye Color
Horn?
Spikes?
Tail length
Body color
Color of
wings
Number of
toes
Belly color
Color of
spikes
DRAGON DATA TABLE
Genotype
Homozygous/
Heterozygous
Phenotype
Freckles?
4
Fire
breathing?
Ear frills?