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Genes and Heredity

Lesson Plan

Genes and Heredity

Objectives

In this lesson, students learn basic genetics concepts. Students will:

  • differentiate between inherited and acquired traits.
  • relate genes to the inheritance of traits.
  • describe how genes are passed from parents to offspring.

Essential Questions

Vocabulary

  • Acquired Traits: Traits that are learned through experience or observing other organisms.
  • Alleles: Alternate forms of a gene that control the same characteristics.
  • Characteristic: Trait or feature of an organism.
  • Chromosome: A tiny thread-like structure in the cells of all organisms that is made up of DNA, which carries genetic information.
  • Dominant Allele: An allele that is always expressed when it is present in an individual.
  • DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid): A molecule in the genes that passes characteristics from one generation to the next.
  • Gene: Part of a chromosome that carries genetic information that determines the characteristics that organisms inherit from their parents.
  • Heredity: The passing of traits from parents to their offspring by means of the genes from the parents.
  • Inherited Traits: Traits that an organism is born with that are carried on their genes (e.g., long neck in a giraffe).
  • Recessive Allele: An allele that is only expressed when the dominant allele for a trait is not present.
  • Trait: A characteristic or feature of a living thing.

Duration

45 minutes/1 class period

Prerequisite Skills

Prerequisite Skills haven't been entered into the lesson plan.

Materials

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Related Materials & Resources

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Formative Assessment

  • View
    • Assess students’ understanding of inherited traits during the opening activity.
    • Collect and check the “Where Did That Trait Come From?” worksheet.

Suggested Instructional Supports

  • View
    Scaffolding, Active Engagement, Modeling, Explicit Instruction
    W: This lesson includes explicit instruction before students work independently on the worksheets.
    H: Students are hooked as they identify and discuss their own inherited traits.
    E: Students practice using the concepts and terms as they complete the worksheets.
    R: Students revisit the concepts by practicing using vocabulary.
    E: Students express their understanding in class discussion and in writing.
    T: This lesson can be tailored to provide support with vocabulary and concepts. See Extension for specific suggestions.
    O: The lesson begins with a whole-class activity, transitions to explicit instruction, and concludes with time for guided practice.

Instructional Procedures

  • View

    Open the lesson by defining characteristics/traits. Have students list any characteristics they think they inherited from their parents. Discuss students’ answers and create a list on the board of types of traits that can be passed from one generation to the next. Explain that heredity is the passing of traits from parents to offspring.

    Differentiate between inherited and acquired characteristics and give examples of each.

    Distribute the Where Did That Trait Come From? handout and have students complete it individually (S-8-2-2_Where Did That Trait Come From and KEY.doc).

    Present a mini-lesson on basic genetics and heredity. Have students copy the definitions and take notes. Explain the concept that DNA is the genetic material that makes us look the way we do and gives us other traits, and that chromosomes are made of DNA. Also, tell students that genes are located on chromosomes and that each gene has two or more alleles. Explain the difference between dominant and recessive alleles.

    Distribute the Genetics and Heredity: Vocabulary worksheet (S-8-2-2_Genetics and Heredity Vocabulary Worksheet and KEY.doc). Have students complete the worksheet, and then review the answers with the class. Have students correct any errors that they made.

    Extension:

    • Students who may be going beyond the standards can research Mendel’s principles of heredity and summarize them in a list. Examples:

    o   Alleles on chromosomes in the cell’s nucleus control traits such as eye color and height.

    o   Alleles are dominant or recessive.

    o   When chromosomes separate during meiosis, the alleles for a trait each move into separate sex cells.

    As a closing activity, have students write an answer to the question, “Why do children share traits with their parents?” in terms of alleles, chromosomes, and heredity.

    Have students make flashcards of all the terms from this lesson. Have them write each term on one side of the cards and its definition with an example on the other side. Have students quiz each other on the vocabulary.

Related Instructional Videos

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DRAFT 05/13/2011
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