Teacher: Tiffany Schandorf

Class Level: 10 Grade Biology

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Date: 1-30-2014

Frameworks/Benchmarks: HS-LS3-3. Apply concepts of statistics and probability to explain the variation and distribution of expressed traits in a population

Topics: Independent assortment, law of segregation, concept of unit characters, probability, ratios

Related Student Goals: Students will be introduced to the concept of meiosis.

Learning Objectives: Students will be able to: Demonstrate the principle of probability

Materials/Resources: lab assignment sheet, 2 pennies per student pair, pencil, calculator

Introduction: When working with genetics, it is assumed that all possible sperm fertilize all possible types of eggs. The results of genetic crosses are usually expressed as ratios and stated as the chances of an offspring showing a particular trait. It is important to realize that chance has no memory, meaning each cross has the same chance as the cross before it. Furthermore, ratios are based on large numbers, and given a small sample actual results may vary from predicted ratios. This can be demonstrated in the following activity.

Activities: The class will be divided into pairs for this study. Each pair of students should have two pennies. Each penny contains two sides representing possible genes for a specific trait that can by given by one parent. By the process of meiosis, only one of the two possibilities is contained in the gametes. The result of fertilization would give an organism a pair of genes for a specific trait, one from each parent.

In a series of round that will be timed by your instructor, take the pennies and toss them both. There are four possible combinations: head-head, head-tail, tail-head, tail-tail. Record your results in the chart provided.

After each round count the number in each row and record the selected combinations in the table.

Evidence of Learning (Assessment): Summarize your observations by calculating the ratios for each type of gene pair : 1. Calculate ratios for your totals:

Wrap-up/Reflection: This activity demonstrates how alleles pair up during fertilization of gametes. One side of the coin represents one allele possible from one parent, while the other penny with two sides represent the possible alleles from the other parent. Meiosis is the process whereby gametes are formed.

2. Calculate ratios for the class totals

3. Which values were closest to the predicted ratios? Why?

4. Why is it necessary to have so many tosses?

5. Explain the importance of using two different pennies.

6. How does this demonstration show the concept of unit characters as Mendel described?

7. How does chance selection of genes, as demonstrated with pennies, provide the basis for variations in organisms?

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Teacher: Tiffany Schandorf

Class Level: 10 Grade Biology

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Date: 2-3-2014

Frameworks/Benchmarks: HS-LS3-3. Apply concepts of statistics and probability to explain the variation and distribution of expressed traits in a population

Topics: probability, ratio, Punnett square, principles of dominance, homozygous, heterozygous, phenotype, genotype

Related Student Goals: Students will learn how meiosis results in the formation of gametes.

Learning Objectives: Students will be able to: Demonstrate the principles of dominance and independent assortment by completing Punnett squares. Demonstrate the principle of probability and express data as ratios.

Materials/Resources: book, paper, pencil, student handout

Introduction: The class reviews the presentation prepared by the instructor and presented by direct instruction. Then the class goes through some example Punnett squares problems as guided instruction before the students are asked to work independently on an assignment sheet. Activities: The students practice working problems on an assignment sheet. It is a SpongeBob genetics sheet, so the students are interested in the material from an entertainment perspective as well as an academic perspective.

Evidence of Learning (Assessment): After 45 minutes, the whole class goes over the entire practice sheet together. The students are required to give the answers to the teacher as they are written on the board.

Wrap-up/Reflection: Punnett squares are an interesting way to study genetics and to track the incidence or occurrence of a trait through the offspring of two individuals. Today we have only examined Punnett squares using one trait, next class we will look at some Punnett squares that track two traits in offspring, which is a 16-square grid, rather than a 4-square grid.

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