Genetics Inheritance and Probability Web Template
Major
Understanding
The characteristics of an offspring are inherited from the parents. One set of genes comes
from one parent and the other set comes from the other parent. This results in two alleles
for every trait. The trait is represented by its phenotype and genotype. Dominant traits
are seen most often in the offspring over the recessive trait. We can determine the
probability of a dominant trait showing up in the offspring as well as the probability of
the recessive trait appearing.
Objectives
S M
Determine the outcomes and the probability of having a baby boy when
traits from the parents are crossed.
S
Explain the phenotypes and genotypes of dominant and recessive traits.
S
M
Construct a punnett square to predict the probability of getting both tails,
one tail and one head, and both heads by tossing two coins 10 times and
recording the genotypes in a chart.
S
M
Determine the probability of the outcomes in the activity.
S
Explain the history of genetics as well as how genetic material is inherited.
S
Determine the genetic traits that can be inherited in humans.
S
M
Calculate the probability of all the offspring traits in the class.
Time
Are You Having a Boy?/Heads or Tails?
What is Genetics? Web Activity
Are you Human? Observable Genetic Traits of Humans
Human Genetics Lab
Presenting Offspring & Calculating Class Probability
Closure
Assessment
20 min
30 min
5-10 min
30-40 min
30-40 min
10-15 min
Materials
For each student:
1 Copy of Are You Having a Boy? /Heads or Tails? Activity Sheet
2 Pennies
1 Copy of What is genetics? Web Activity
1 Computer with Internet access
1 Copy of Are you Human? Observable Genetic Traits of Humans
Activity Sheet
1 Copy of the Human Genetics Lab
Scissors
Glue
Construction paper
Colored pencils
(Teacher can use any of the student handouts as transparencies.)
For the Class:
Computers with Internet Access
State and National Correlations
Virginia Standards of Learning: Science 6 (6.1, 6.2, 6.8); Life Sciences (LS.1, LS.2,
LS.3, LS.13); Math 6 (6.1, 6.20); Math 7 (7.6, 7.14, 7.18); Math 8 (8.3, 8.11)
NCTM Standards: Data Analysis and Probability
NSE Standards: Life Science: principles of heredity, reproduction, genetic material,
heritable characteristics, dominant and recessive traits, genotypes and phenotypes
Instructional Strategies
1. Anticipatory Set
Ask the students questions such as: What is genetics? How are traits
inherited? Could we calculate the possibilities of one trait appearing over
another trait? How could we do this? What are the chances a baby will be
born a male?
Demonstrate how to use a punnett square to predict possible results of an
offspring when traits from the parents are crossed.
Are You Having a Boy? Activity Sheet
Heads or Tails? Activity Sheet
2. Explanation: The History of Genetics
The students will use the website http://www.dnaftb.org/dnaftb/
and an activity sheet to learn about the history of genetics and how we, as
humans came to be.
Lead the students in a class discussion on how genetic material is inherited.
3. Observable Genetic Traits of Humans: Are You Human? Activity
Students will be able to determine which human traits are dominant and
recessive while independently determining their own phenotypes and the
possible genotypes when given a list of human traits.
Each student will be given a set of chromosomes from each parent and they
will have to independently determine the traits of the offspring.
The students will draw a picture of the offspring with the correct traits
appearing in the offspring.
Practice
Independent Practice: The students will present their offspring to the class
explaining the phenotypes given the genotypes.
Guided Practice: Guide the students in calculating the probability of all the
offspring traits in the class and then discuss the results.
Closure
Restate the lesson objectives and relate them to the learning experiences. Students
will write down one thing they learned about the history of genetics, how genetic
material is inherited from their parents or the type of traits that can be inherited in
humans on a note card. They will exchange cards and during class review read either
their own learning thought or the learned thought on the card of a classmate.
Extension Activities
Using different methods to calculate probability such as tree diagrams.
“How to Extract DNA from Anything Living” Lab:
http://gslc.genetics.utah.edu/units/activities/extraction/index.cfm The students
will be able to expand their knowledge of genetics by performing an experiment
to observe the DNA of either a vegetable or a fruit.
“Put an Enzyme to Work!” Lab:
http://gslc.genetics.utah.edu/units/activities/proteins/index.cfm The students will
be able to observe how enzymes work by performing an experiment with fresh,
ripe pineapple.
Assessment
Three sample items are provided for use in accessing students’ understanding:
 Paper-Pencil Test: Assessment Questions
 Product Task: Dragon Genetics Lab
 Rubric for Dragon Genetics Lab
The following table shows how the assessment items are related to the specific
objectives.
Objective
The characteristics of an offspring are inherited from
the parents. One set of genes comes from one parent
and the other set comes from the other parent. This
results in two alleles for every trait. The trait is
represented by its phenotype and genotype.
Dominant traits are seen most often in the offspring
over the recessive trait. We can determine the
probability of a dominant trait showing up in the
offspring as well as the probability of the recessive
trait appearing.
Determine the outcomes and the probability of having
a baby boy when traits from the parents are crossed.
Explain the phenotypes and genotypes of dominant
and recessive traits.
Product/Performance
Paper-Pencil Test
Dragon Genetics
(Rubric)
Major
Understanding
1
2, 3
Construct a punnett square to predict the probability
of getting both tails, one tail and one head, and both
heads by tossing two coins 10 times and recording the
genotypes in a chart.
Determine the probability of the outcomes in the
activity.
4
Explain the history of genetics as well as how genetic
material is inherited.
7, 8, 9, 10
5
Determine the genetic traits that can be inherited in
humans.
6
Calculate the probability of all the offspring traits in
the class.
11
Teaching Tips
Answers for the Paper-Pencil Test
Frequently Asked Questions
References