Reproduction
Unit Plan
Reproduction
Objectives
In this unit, students will learn how organisms make new cells from existing cells. They will compare and contrast sexual and asexual reproduction. They will learn how the processes of mitosis and meiosis fit into the life cycles of different organisms. Students will:
- speculate as to why people historically supported the idea of spontaneous generation.
- observe daphnia under microscopes and apply concepts of biological organization and reproduction to the organism.
- summarize the life cycles of humans and daphnia.
- draw the stages of mitosis and meiosis.
- classify and calculate the relative amount of time a cell spends in each stage of mitosis.
- compare and contrast the types of cells produced by mitosis and meiosis and how the two processes fit into organisms’ life cycles.
Essential Questions
Related Unit and Lesson Plans
Related Materials & Resources
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Materials haven't been entered into the unit plan.Formative Assessment
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Multiple-Choice Items:
- Which of the following is true of asexual reproduction?
A
It requires both males and females.
B
The genetic material from the parent is cut in half.
C
It leads to greater genetic diversity.
D
The offspring have the same DNA as their parent.
- Which terms below are arranged in order from largest to smallest?
A
cell, organism, organ system, organ, tissue
B
organ system, organism, organ, cell, tissue
C
organism, organ system, organ, tissue, cell
D
organism, tissue, cell, organ system, organ
- If a cell from an organism has 50 chromosomes to begin with and it goes through mitosis, how many chromosomes will be in each of the cells produced?
A
25
B
50
C
75
D
100
- During which phase of mitosis are the chromosomes lined up in the middle of the cell?
A
Metaphase
B
Telophase
C
Anaphase
D
Prophase
- Which of the following is a correct statement about mitosis and meiosis?
A
They both start with one cell and end with two.
B
Mitosis makes sperm, meiosis makes eggs.
C
Meiosis cuts the chromosome number in half, mitosis keeps it the same.
D
Meiosis happens only in young offspring, whereas mitosis happens only in adults.
- During which of the following phases does a cell spend the majority of its time?
A
Interphase
B
Prophase
C
Metaphase
D
Anaphase
- If the sperm of an organism has 32 chromosomes and the egg has 32 chromosomes, how many chromosomes would be found in the cell of an adult?
A
16
B
32
C
64
D
128
- What process allows offspring to receive only some of the genetic information from their parents instead of getting all from both parents?
A
Asexual reproduction
B
Mitosis
C
Meiosis
D
Spontaneous generation
- Which of the following is a key difference between the phases of meiosis and mitosis?
A
Chromosomes only move during meiosis.
B
Chromosomes only pair up during prophase of meiosis.
C
Cells only separate during cytokinesis of mitosis.
D
Chromosomes are pulled apart during prophase of mitosis and pulled apart during anaphase of meiosis.
Multiple-Choice Answer Key:
1. D
2. C
3. B
4. A
5. C
6. A
7. C
8. C
9. B
Short-Answer Items:
10. A scientist finds a population of a new species of lizard in the Gobi Desert. They catch 12 adult lizards and put them into three separate cages:
Cage A–2 males and 2 females
Cage B–4 males
Cage C–4 females
The cages are sent on a ship back to a zoo in the United States. When they are unpacked, the zookeeper finds offspring in both cage A and cage C. Summarize what must have happened in these two cages, using each of the following terms at least once: sexual reproduction, asexual reproduction, mitosis, meiosis, egg, sperm, males, females.
11. Compare and contrast mitosis and meiosis regarding the number of cells produced, how the number of chromosomes at the beginning compares to the number at the end, and the phases involved in the process.
Short-Answer Key and Scoring Rubrics:
10. A scientist finds a population of a new species of lizard in the Gobi Desert. They catch 12 adult lizards and put them into three separate cages:
Cage A–2 males and 2 females
Cage B–4 males
Cage C–4 females
The cages are sent on a ship back to a zoo in the United States. When they are unpacked, the zookeeper finds offspring in both cage A and cage C. Summarize what must have happened in these two cages, using each of the following terms at least once: sexual reproduction, asexual reproduction, mitosis, meiosis, egg, sperm, males, females.
Points
Description
2
- The student identifies both cage A as sexual reproduction and cage C as asexual reproduction.
- Student uses mitosis to describe growth and meiosis to describe formation of sperm/egg.
- Student ties egg production to females and sperm production to males.
1
- The student identifies either cage A as sexual reproduction or cage C as asexual reproduction, but not both.
- Student uses either mitosis to describe growth or meiosis to describe formation of sperm/egg, but not both.
- Student ties either egg production to females or sperm production to males, but not both.
0
- The student does not clearly state whether sexual or asexual reproduction occurred in either cage A or C.
- Student makes no clear connection between either mitosis or meiosis in the life cycle.
- Student makes no clear connection between males and females and egg and sperm production.
11. Compare and contrast mitosis and meiosis regarding the number of cells produced, how the number of chromosomes at the beginning compares to the number at the end, and the phases involved in the process.
Points
Description
2
- The student identifies that mitosis results in two cells whereas meiosis results in four.
- The student describes that the number of chromosomes does not change in mitosis and is halved during meiosis.
- The student identifies that both processes go through the same phases, but meiosis goes through them twice.
1
- The student either identifies that mitosis results in two cells or that meiosis results in four, but not both.
- The student either describes that the number of chromosomes does not change in mitosis or describes that the number is halved during meiosis.
- The student either identifies that both processes go through the same phases, or that meiosis goes through them twice, but not both.
0
- The student does not accurately state how many cells either mitosis or meiosis produce.
- The student does not accurately describe the way that mitosis or meiosis either maintain or change chromosome numbers.
- The student does not compare the phases of meiosis to mitosis.
Performance Assessment:
Sex-Change in Coral Reef Fish
Distribute the Performance Assessment article, “The Physiology of Sex-Change in Coral Reef Fish” by Aaron N. Rice, and give students the following directions after they have read the article (S-7-4_Performance Assessment Article and Rubric.docx).
You are applying for a summer job at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. However, there are lots of applicants every summer, so not everyone gets a position. You decide to learn more about the life cycles of tropical reef fish in the hope that the people interviewing you will be impressed by your knowledge and realize that you are willing to take extra steps to learn about the aquarium and help to educate people visiting the exhibit.
You come across an article on coral reef fish that can change sex. You decide that this is a great opportunity to relate this interesting idea to everything you learned in class about reproduction and that a large poster-like diagram would be the best way to organize everything. You decide your poster should show the sex-changing life cycle of either the California sheephead or cinnamon clownfish, and that it should have the steps of mitosis and meiosis drawn within the life cycle diagram. The specific criteria that you decide upon are:
- fish life cycle based on the human life cycle with larva stage added between sexual reproduction and offspring.
- fish life cycle includes sex changing of either California sheephead (female to male) or cinnamon clownfish (male to female).
- phases of mitosis are drawn and labeled on the diagram in the proper location (beginning cell should have only four chromosomes).
- phases of meiosis are drawn and labeled on the diagram in the proper location (beginning cells should have only four chromosomes).
- diagram includes drawing or photograph of adult fish with name of fish clearly visible.
Performance Assessment Scoring Rubric:
Points
Description
5
The student completes all five of the requirements, including:
- Overall structure based on human life cycle with larva stage added.
- Sex changing of fish.
- Correctly labeled drawings of the phases of mitosis in the correct order.
- Correctly labeled drawings of the phases of meiosis in the correct order.
- Photo/drawing of fish with name.
4
The student completes four of the requirements.
3
The student completes three of the requirements.
2
The student completes two of the requirements.
1
The student completes one of the requirements.
0
The student demonstrates lack of understanding or does not attempt to complete the assessment.
DRAFT 05/12/2011
