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Parents and Offspring

Parents and Offspring

TEKS Objective

Demonstrate that some likenesses between parents and offspring are inherited, passed from generation to generation such as eye color in humans or shapes of leaves in plants. Other likenesses are learned such as table manners or reading a books and seals balancing balls on their noses.


Essential Understanding

The student knows that organisms undergo similar life processes and have structures that help them survive within their environment.

Science Background

The Genetics of Inherited Traits: BioEd Online (video) – Dr. Ron McNeel explains how genetic information is passed from one generation to the next during this 20-minute video segment.

The Genetics of Inherited Traits
BioEd Online, www.bioedonline.org

DNA From the Beginning: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (website) - Begin with “Classical Genetics,” and continue to “Molecules of Genetics” and “Genetic Organization and Control” for a detailed overview of how genetic characteristics are passed from one generation to the next, among other related topics. Includes extensive background information, video, interactive questions to test knowledge, and links to other resources.

DNA From the Beginning
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, www.dnaftb.org

What Is Heredity? Genetic Science Learning Center (website) - A slideshow/tutorial that explains how traits are passed from parents to offspring.

What is Heredity?
Genetic Science Learning Center, learn.genetics.utah.edu

Signature Lesson

Reebops - A model organism for teaching genetics concepts: BioEd Online (website) – In this updated version of a classic life sciences activity, students create imaginary creatures to demonstrate how hereditary information is passed from one generation to the next.

Reebops: A model organism for teaching genetics concepts
BioEd Online, www.bioedonline.org

Supporting Lessons

Family Traits Trivia: Genetic Science Learning Center (PDF) - In this take-home game/activity, students conduct inherited traits surveys of their families. In class, students chart and discuss their data and write descriptions of their discoveries to understand that 1) every person has a combination of traits that is unique to him or her, 2) some traits are inherited, and 3) other traits may be learned.

Family Traits Trivia
Genetics Science Learning Center, www.teach.genetics.utah.edu

Genetics for Kids Mini-lecture and Punnett’s Square Activity: Exploring Nature Educational Resource (website) - A brief overview of genetics and traits, followed by a simple Punnett’s Square activity for pea plants.

Genetics for Kids Mini-lecture and Punnett's Square Activity
Exploring Nature Educational Resource, www.exploringnature.org

Traits Bingo: Genetic Science Learning Center (PDF) - Genetics review activity in which students play a game of bingo focused on questions about their genetic traits. Includes a Spanish language version. (Might this also work as an assessment?)

Traits Bingo
Genetic Science Learning Center, www.teach.genetics.utah.edu

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