LS4+(5-6)+-+11


 * Students demonstrate an understanding of human heredity by …**

11a __differentiating between inherited and acquired traits__.

11b __observing, recording and comparing differences in inherited traits (e.g. connected earlobe, tongue rolling).__

What do these GSEs mean? What subtopics do students need to address to understand these GSEs?
The objective goals of these GSEs will allow students to examine their heredity by investigating genetic differences in traits. Students will be able to compare and contrast both inherited and acquired traits, distinguish which ways humans express these characteristics, investigate how these traits are transmitted, and also determine if these traits are transmitted genetically, or through other methods. The students will be able to differentiate and visually understand the main differences between examples of inherited and acquired traits. Subtopics that would need to be addressed to understand this GSE at a fifth or sixth grade level would be understanding the general concepts of: chromosomes, genes, the difference between acquired and inherited traits, and the physical appearance of a human with their phenotype.



What ideas to students need to understand before they can address the topics described above?

 * The phenotype of a person is the physical expression of the gene composition for a trait under study
 * Understanding of parental,F1, and F2 generations
 * Understanding that progeny receives 50% of genetic information from father and 50% genetic information from mother
 * Genetic mutations can occur in a variety of different ways that can possibly affect progeny
 * Basic understanding of Mendel's laws of dominance and inheritance
 * Basic understanding of cell nucleus containing DNA
 * Basic understanding of reading a pedigree diagram
 * Basic understanding that the use of punnet squares are used to determine genetic ratios
 * Some traits can be phenotically dominant over other recessive traits

Common Misconceptions about Heredity
> **Berthelsen, B. (1999). Students Naïve Conceptions in Life Science. MSTA Journal, 44(1) (Spring’99), pp. 13-19. http://www.msta-mich.org**
 * 1) Daughters inherit most of their characteristics from their mothers. Boys inherit most of their characteristics from their fathers.
 * 2) Variation between species is a result of adaptation to environment instead of inheritance.
 * 3) Sexual reproduction produces superior offspring.
 * 4) Students believe that transmitted characteristics are acquired during the life time of the animal.
 * 5) Individuals can adapt to a changing environment. These adaptations are heritable.
 * 6) Students do not understand the relationship between DNA, genes, and chromosomes
 * 7) Students can apply chance and probability to assigned genetics problems, but not to human situations in families.

What phenomena and representations help students understand these topics?
__Construct a sample Pedigree__ Students can create a sample pedigree of their family to see the differences and similarities between phenotypes that are inherited.

http://www.progenygenetics.com/online-pedigree/

__Videos__ Video provides examples of common inherited and acquired traits

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP27i05-vTg&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL3BD5E34B7642293A

__Slide Show__ Brief visual sequence of inherited differences that can be used as an example for students (click on observable trait link)

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/traits/

What activities or activity sequences can be used to address these GSEs?
__Compare and Contrast inherited vs acquired traits__ Students can creatively compare inherited and acquired traits with these artistic visual representations:

1. http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/traits/activities/pdfs/Handy%20Family%20Tree_Public.pdf 2. http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/traits/activities/pdfs/A%20Tree%20of%20Genetic%20Traits_public.pdf

__Genetics Bingo__ This bingo game will put students' understanding of inherited and acquired traits to the test.

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/traits/activities/pdfs/Traits%20Bingo_Public.pdf

__Traits Trivia Activity__ This activity will identify traits students have inherited and traits they may share in common with others in their class

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/traits/activities/pdfs/Traits%20Trivia_Public.pdf