Dropping Your Genes

This is an activity that I learned of when I student taught.  I took the worksheet and revamped it to make it less confusing for students.  The only bummer is I cannot figure out how to post it all so it looks like it would in Word or a PDF.  The only part that is is missing is the page with the chromosomes on it.

This is a nice introduction activity for middle school or high school when you begin the discussion of heredity.  

Name: _____________________________                      

Genes Activity

Procedure:

1. Determine your phenotype (outward trait) and then the genotype (alleles present for trait) for each trait and record in the given column.  If you are unsure if you are homozygous (AA) or heterozygous (Aa) for a trait, consider yourself heterozygous.
2. Transfer your genotypes to the chromosomes by writing one allele in each box on the corresponding chromosome.
3. Initial your chromosomes.
4. Cut out the chromosomes and fold them on the dotted lines.
5. Pair up with another student of the opposite sex.
6. Partners hold their chromosomes in the air and drop them on the table.
7. Record the alleles for each trait that appear face up on the chromosomes between both partners.
8. Repeat the steps 6 & 7 for additional children.

Traits

                                                                                   

Chromosome #1

            Skin pigment: Normal= N                                                      Albino= n

            Tongue curler: Curler= C                                                        Noncurler= c

Chromosome #2

            Ears lobed:      Lobed= L

                                    Attached= l

Chromosome #3

            Polydactyly:    6 fingers/toes= P

                                    5 fingers/toes= pp

            Freckles:          freckles= F

No freckles= f

Chromosome #4

            Hairline:          widow’s peak= W

                                    Straight across= ww

            Dwarfism:       short stature= D

                                    Normal height= dd

Chromosome #5

            Mid digital hair: hair= H

                        No hair= hh

Chromosome #6

Height:                        6’+= TT

                                    5’-6’= Tt

                                    Under 5’= tt

My Traits

Phenotype                       Genotype

Skin

Tongue

Ears

Polydactyly

Freckles

Hairline

Dwarfism

Mid digit

           

Height

Chromosome #7

            Nose size:        normal=P

                                    Big= pp

Chromosome #8

            PKU disease:  healthy= K

                                    PKU= kk

Chromosome #9

            Tay Sachs disease: healthy= T

                                    Tay Sachs= tt

            Huntington’s Disease: Disease= H

                                    Healthy= hh

            Eye color:        brown (or green)= B

                                    Blue= bb

Chromosome #10

            Sex:                 female= XX

                                    male= XY

Phenotype                       Genotype

Nose

PKU

Tay Sachs

Huntington’s

Eye

sex

Child #1         

            Genotype   Phenotype                                    Genotype   Phenotype                                      Genotype   Phenotype

1)                                     1)                                     2)

3)                                     3)                                     4)                                    

4)                                     5)                                     6)

7)                                     8)                                     9)

9)                                     9)                                     10)

Child #2         

            Genotype   Phenotype                                    Genotype   Phenotype                                      Genotype   Phenotype

1)                                     1)                                     2)

3)                                     3)                                     4)                                    

4)                                     5)                                     6)

7)                                     8)                                     9)

9)                                     9)                                     10)

Child #3         

            Genotype   Phenotype                                    Genotype   Phenotype                                      Genotype   Phenotype

1)                                     1)                                     2)

3)                                     3)                                     4)                                    

4)                                     5)                                     6)

7)                                     8)                                     9)

9)                                     9)                                     10)