Doggy DNA - A Recipe for Traits
Background
A set of instructions called DNA makes a “recipe” for
traits in all organisms. Information in a DNA strand is
grouped into small segments. Each segment is made
of even smaller units (like recipes are made of words,
and words are made of letters). Differences in the DNA
“alphabet” are what makes differences in traits (just like
a different sequence of letters makes different words
and a different recipe).
Purpose/Objective
To create and decode a “DNA Recipe” for man’s best friend
To observe how variations in DNA lead to the inheritance of different traits
Materials
Doggy DNA Envelope
Dog Traits Key
Colored Pencils
Procedure
Follow the directions below to create a DNA recipe for a dog. Using the Dog Traits Key,
read your DNA recipe and make a drawing of your dog showing all of its traits.
1. Determine the first trait of your dog (body shape) by randomly picking a piece of dog
DNA out of the envelope.
2. Look at the symbols on the DNA strip you have chosen. Match the pattern to one you
see on the Dog Traits Key for body shape.
3. Write the Body Shape that matches the DNA piece that you picked.
4. Set the piece of DNA aside and repeat steps 1-3 for the next trait on the key (Head
Shape).
5. Repeat steps 1-3 for each of the traits listed on the Dog Traits Key.
6. When you have finished, draw your dog with all of its traits (the traits you have listed
from the Dog Traits Key) on a separate piece of paper.
7. As instructed by your teacher, hang up the picture of your dog. Is your dog different
from or the same as others in the class?
Data/Results
Dog Traits Table based on DNA Recipe
Dog Trait
Description
Dog Trait
Body Shape
Eyes
Head Shape
Tail
Ears
Coat Color
Legs
Hair
Description
Make a neat and accurate Drawing of your Dog based on the DNA Recipe.
Don’t forget to give it a name!!
Discussion
1) What made each dog a little different from another? (No... the answer is not how well
a student could draw)
2) How many genes were there in your Doggy DNA?
3) There is usually a limited number of sequence variations for a gene. That is, a gene
usually comes in a few different forms. How many different forms were there for each of
the dog genes?
4) Draw a chromosome with 8 segments. Label each segment with the dog gene is
represents.
5) In this activity, a single gene determined each dog trait. Why is this not necessarily
true for all genes?
Dog Traits Key
Dog Traits Key (cont)
Body Shape ____________________________________
Head Shape ___________________
Ears _________________________
Legs ________________________________
Eyes ________________________
Tail __________________________
Coat Color _________________________
Hair ________________________
Name _______________________________________