Test My Genes Lab: Students Use Their Traits to Practice Punnett Squares - NGSS

In Brief: The lab proceeds as follows

1. Students complete a short matching section using important genetics terms

2. Students read about five different human traits (Interlacing of fingers, PTC tasting, Presence of Palmaris Longus Muscle, Hair Texture, and Color Vision)

3. Students attempt to determine their genotpyes, based upon their phenotypes, and the information in the lab.

4. Students perform Punnett Squares using their genotypes, in order to make predictions about future generations

A. NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS HEREIN

DCI’s: LS3 Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits

Cross Cutting Concepts: Patterns, Cause and Effect, Stability and Change

Scientific and Engineering Practices:

Analyzing and Interpreting Data, Using Models, Using Mathematics and Computational Thinking

B. SUGGESTED USES

Prior Knowledge: This particular lab does not walk students through how to set up and perform a Punnett Square. For that reason, I recommend giving students some background information on how to perform a Punnett Square.

Implementing the Lesson:

Materials and Setup: This lab requires very little setup. However, if you do not have PTC paper, then you will have to order some (it costs less than $5 for 100 strips on Amazon).

The Ishihara test (colorful dots arranged in a pattern that is used for colorblind testing) must be printed in color, or displayed on a screen. My school uses Chromebooks, and I use them to display the circles.

Otherwise, the lab is very simple, and walks students through the parts. Students enjoy the lab because it reveals information about themselves. My colleagues enjoy the lab because it shows a variety of patterns of inheritance, for a variety of human traits (some behavioral, sensory, and physical). The lab also explains the evolutionary importance of several of the traits.

You can view/buy a complete Unit Bundle on Genetics by clicking below:

Buy it here: Genetics Unit Bundle

If you like this product, you may like "Giant Genetics Packet; a huge packet of practice problems, Punnett Squares, and more.

Buy it here: NGSS Aligned:Giant Genetics Packet

This packet pairs great with An "Automatically Graded Genetics and Meiosis Test",where you can grade a 55-question online test with the click of a button, using Google Forms

Buy it here: Automatically Graded Genetics Test

Want to expose your students to Epigenetics? You may like "Epigenetics Activity", where students model epigenetic gene expression in six different scenarios.

Buy it here: Modeling Epigenetics Activity

My students have a lot of fun with this activity. If yours liked it, there are more like this at my TpT store:

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Next-Gen-Sci-Guy

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