Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Got Lactase? The Co-Evolution of Genes and Culture
Does the human body evolve as quickly as human culture? With a stellar 15-minute video, explore the trait of lactose intolerance. Only about 1/3 of human adults seem to still have the enzyme lactase and therefore, the ability to digest...
Curated OER
TECH: Geneticist
A brief PowerPoint is used to introduce the class to the field of genetics by explaining the fields of work, the education required, and the job prospects. A trait inventory worksheet is completed by individuals, and then they gather...
MENSA Education & Research Foundation
Peas in a Pod: Genetics
Can peas have grandparents? Learn about inherited traits and heredity with a set of activities focused on Mendelian genetics. As your class learns about the process of passing traits along in Punnett squares, they take on the role of...
Curated OER
Genetics/Blood Types Crossword
In this genetics worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle given thirty six clues about genetic disorders, genetic inheritance and blood types.
Curated OER
Weird Genetics Problems
In this genetics worksheet, students will solve genetic problems using the genetic cross or a Punnett square. This worksheet has 6 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Punnett Square Popcorn
In this genetics worksheet, students use the Punnett Square to learn about dominance and codominance in inherited traits. This worksheet has 1 short answer question and 6 problems to solve.
Curated OER
Diploid Genetics and Chromosomal Inheritance
Given the phenotypes of offspring in mice, flowers, and human blood type, genetics pupils practice determining the genotypes of the parents. Four short answer questions follow. The entire assignment will require learners to put on their...
Curated OER
Here's Looking at You
Students assess some common inherited traits which are easily observable and note their phenotype for the trait. Students compare their phenotypes to those of their parents and attempt to describe the pattern and manor of inheritance.
Curated OER
The Electrophoresis of Human Hemoglobin
Students analyze different types of hemoglobin. They use the technique of agarose gel electrophoresis to separate human hemoglobin molecules according to their electrical charge, size, and/or shape. Students relate the migration of...
Beyond Benign
Lucky Brand Genes: Genetic Traits
Explore single-gene traits in humans. After viewing a video introducing genetic vocabulary, individuals identify their phenotype and possible genotypes of specific traits. They consider both dominant and recessive traits. This is the...
North Carolina State University
Exploring Genetics Across the Middle School Science and Math Curricula
Where is a geneticist's favorite place to swim? A gene pool. Young geneticists complete hands-on activities, experiments, and real-world problem solving throughout the unit. With extra focus on dominant and recessive genes, Punnett...
Curated OER
Genetics Since Mendel
In this biology activity, 9th graders determine whether it is possible for two alleles to produce four genotypes. Then they state how many alleles there are for blood type. Students also determine which blood type is inherited by...
Curated OER
Heredity Worksheet: Blood Type
In this genetics learning exercise, learners use Punnett squares to determine the possible genotypes of offspring based on blood type. This learning exercise has 6 problems to solve.
Curated OER
Sex-Linked Genes and Disorders
In this genes learning exercise, students determine how the gender of a baby is produced plus explore sex-linked disorders such as hemophilia. This learning exercise has 20 fill in the blank and 8 short answer questions.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Patterns in the Distribution of Lactase Persistence
We all drink milk as babies, so why can't we all drink it as adults? Examine the trend in lactase production on the world-wide scale as science scholars analyze and interpret data. Groups create pie charts from the data, place them on a...
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Genes Can Be Moved Between Species
Biotechnology changes lives every day, but how did it all start? Learn about Cohen and Boyer's technique for recombinant DNA and the founding of this new scientific study. Then, scholars use the online interactive to discover how Hanahan...
Science Friday
Colorful Chromosomes
Everything is in the genes. Individuals observe 14 different traits of themselves. Using pipe cleaners and beads, the learners create models of a chromosome representing their traits. The class then compares and contrasts everyone's...
Anthropological Association
Race: Teacher Guide: Race
How has the concept of race changed over time? Explore the genetic, cultural, and social aspects of race through a series of impactful activities. Scholars discover how race is influenced by inherited traits, examine census records to...
Curated OER
Heredity Mix 'n Match
Learners randomly select jelly beans that represent genes for several human traits such as tongue-rolling ability and eye color. Then, working in pairs (preferably of mixed gender), students randomly choose new pairs of jelly beans from...
Curated OER
Gene Puzzles
Students come to understand that in sexually reproducing organisms, such as humans, typically half of the genes come from each parent.
Students examine a fictional pedigree and determine which gene is responsible for a given trait. The...
Curated OER
Mendelian and Non-Mendelian Heredity
Tenth graders discuss their physical features, and why they look the way they do. They listen as the teacher discusses DNA, alleles, and dominant or recessive genes. Students perform an experiment with different colored markers...
Curated OER
How Can We Extract Human DNA?
Students perform an experiment in which they extract DNA samples from hair samples. They follow a set procedure to extract the DNA and complete summary questions.
Curated OER
Karyotypes and Inheritance of Chromosomes
Students explore the mode of inheritance of chromosomes. Given a scenario, students use the Human Genome sheet to determine inherited chromosomes. They illustrate the difference between genotype and phenotype. Students develop a model...
Curated OER
Designer Genes
Learners view a video on DNA. They discuss mitosis, meiosis and fertilization. They use strips of paper to simulate fertilization and analyze the genotype and phenotype of the combined chromosomes.