Baby Face Lab
Objective: The learner will understand that each trait has at least one pair of genes. One gene
will come from the mother and the other gene from the father. Some traits will have more
than two genes such as skin and eye color. The genes will determine what the traits will be on
a person. Most traits will have complete dominance where the dominant gene completely
overpowers the recessive gene and the dominant trait shows up (like face shape). Some traits
will have incomplete dominance where the dominant trait does not completely overpower
the recessive and a mixing occurs (such as hair type)
What to turn in for this lab:
1. A drawing of a baby face – you may choose whether to draw a baby or a 7th grader
2. The Data Sheet
3. Conclusion Questions
Procedure
1. The male in each group will determine the gender of the child.
Heads = boy : Tails = girl
2. Beginning with the first trait, you will each flip a coin to determine which gene you
are giving to the child. Heads is a Dominant gene and tails is a recessive gene.
3. Record each parent’s gene in the data sheet. Combine the mother’s gene with the
father’s gene to come up with the genotype.
4. Look at the packet and determine the trait (phenotype) of the child by matching your
genes with the picture that matches those genes. This is the trait you will draw for
your child.
Genetic Traits:
1. Face Shape
Round ( RR, Rr )
Square ( rr )
2. Chin Shape
Very Prominent ( RR, Rr )
Less Prominent ( rr )
3. Cleft Chin
Present ( AA, Aa )
Not Present ( aa )
4. Skin Color
Skin color requires more than just two genes, it requires six. Each parent will flip the coin
three times. Record an A for the first flip, a B for the second and a C for the third. Make sure
heads is a capital letter and tails is lower case. Count the dominant (heads or capital letters)
genes to figure out the skin color using the chart below.
6 dominant genes
5 dominant genes
4 dominant genes
3 dominant genes
2 dominant genes
1 dominant gene
0 dominant genes
very dark black skin
very dark brown skin
dark brown skin
medium brown skin
light brown skin
light tan skin
white skin
5. Hair color
Use the same instructions for skin color, but follow the chart below.
6 dominant genes
5 dominant genes
4 dominant genes
3 dominant genes
2 dominant genes
1 dominant gene
0 dominant genes
black hair
dark brown hair
brown hair
brownish blond hair
blond hair
white hair
red
6. Hair Type
Curly ( HH )
Wavy ( Hh )
Straight ( hh )
7. Hair Line
Widow’s Peak ( HH, Hh )
Straight ( hh )
8. Eyebrow Shade
Very Dark (HH)
Medium (Hh)
Light (hh)
9. Eyebrow Thickness
Bushy (BB, Bb )
Fine (bb )
10. Eyebrow Placement
Apart ( NN, Nn )
Connected ( nn )
11. Eye Color
Eye Color uses two genes from each parent. Each person will need to flip a coin twice, the first
flip will be recorded as an A and the second a B for each person. Use the information below to
determine eye color.
AABB
AABb
AaBB
AaBb
AAbb
aaBB
Aabb
aaBb
aabb
Dark brown
Brown
Dark Green
Light Green
Dark Blue
Dark Blue
Light Blue
Light Blue
Pale Blue
12. Eye Distance Apart
Close together ( EE )
Average Distance (Ee)
Far apart (ee)
13. Eye Size
Large (EE)
Medium
(Ee)
Small (ee)
14. Eye Shape
Almond (AA, Aa)
Round (aa)
15. Eye Slant
Horizontal (HH, Hh )
Upward Slant (hh)
16. Eyelash length
Long (LL, Ll )
Short ( ll )
17. Mouth Size
Long (MM)
Average ( Mm)
Short (mm)
18. Lip Size
Thick Lips (LL, Ll)
Thin Lips (ll)
19. Cheek Dimples
Present (DD, Dd)
Absent (dd)
20. Nose Size
Big (NN)
Medium (Nn)
21. Earlobe Attachment
Free (FF, Ff)
Attached (ff)
22. Hairy Ears
Absent (HH, Hh)
Present (hh)
Present (FF, Ff)
23. Freckles on Cheeks
Absent (ff)
Present (FF, Ff)
24. Freckles on Forehead
Absent (ff)
Small (nn)
BABY FACE DATA SHEET
Parent’s Names :__________________________ & _____________________________
Child’s Name: ________________________________ Gender:
1
Trait
Face Shape (R)
2
Chin Shape (R)
3
Cleft chin (A)
4
Skin Color (A,B,C)
5
Hair Color (A, B, C)
6
Hair Type (H)
7
Widow’s Peak (H)
8
Eyebrow Shade (H)
9
Eyebrow Thickness (B)
10
Eyebrow Placement (N)
11
Eye Color (A, B)
12
Eye Distance Apart (E)
13
Eye Size (E)
14
Eye Shape (A)
15
Eye Slant (H)
16
Eyelash Length (L)
17
Mouth Size (M)
18
Lip Size (L)
19
Cheek Dimples (D)
20
Nose Size (N)
21
Earlobe Attachment (F)
22
Hairy Ears (H)
23
Freckles on Cheeks (F)
24 Freckles on Forehead (F)
Gene from Gene from
Mother
Father
Male
Genotype
Female
Phenotype
BABY FACE CONCLUSION QUESTIONS
1. Why did the male flip the coin to determine the gender of the child?
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2. What are the chances that both recessive genes will be contributed to a child if both
parents are hybrid. (Making the child homozygous recessive)? Show your punnett square.
3. Use examples from this activity to explain the difference between complete and
incomplete dominance.
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4. If a man who has long eyelashes (LL) marries a woman who has long eyelashes, what are
all the possible genotypes and phenotypes of the children?
Genotypes :_________________________ Phenotypes :_________________________
5. What are the possible genotypes of the parents of a child who has wavy hair?
Genotypes: ________________________
6. Can the actual traits of an offspring be determined by knowing the traits of the parents?
(Can you tell exactly what a child will look like by looking at the parent?)Explain.
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7. Allison has a square face, fine eyebrows and a small nose. Could Allison possibly be a
parent to your child? Explain why or why not. (Hint: compare the genotypes for Allison and
your baby)
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