Introduction
What is genetics? What are traits and why are they passed from parents to offspring? What makes you, you? You will use this WebQuest in order to find out!
Task
The objective of this WebQuest is to help identify important information about genetics. Students will work together in a group to carry out a genetics WebQuest using online resources. We will discuss the answers to the questions as a class, and ask each group to contribute.
By the end of this activity, students should be able to:
- explain the key terms DNA, gene, chromosome, trait, genotype, and phenotype
- describe where DNA is found in the body
- explain that genes code for specific proteins
- explain the basic concept of inheritance – that parents pass chromosomes on to their children
- explain how our phenotypes are a result of an interaction between genetic make-up and environmental factors
- give some examples of environmental factors that affect our phenotypes.
Process
Fill out the answers in the spaces provided below.
Watch the video below to correctly answer questions 1-3.
1. What is heredity?
2. What are traits influenced by?
3. What are genes and what do they code for?
Use the following link to answer questions 4-16. http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/basics/oldtour/
4. The passing of __________________ is the basis of heredity.
5. Our ________________ encode the instructions that define our traits.
6. Each of us has thousands of genes, which are made of _______ and reside in our chromosomes.
7. In addition to our genes, the _________________ we live in also helps define our traits.
8. Humans have two complete sets of _________ chromosomes.
9. When parents conceive a child, each parent contributes ____________ set of chromosomes.
10. Every child receives _______ of its chromosomes from the mother and half from the father.
11. This transfer takes place at ______________, when the father’s sperm joins the mother’s egg.
12. While most cells in our bodies have two sets of chromosomes, or a total of ______________, egg and sperm each have _________ chromosomes.
13. When egg and sperm unite they create a single cell called a __________________.
14. Each parent contributes _______ complete set of chromosomes to their child.
15. Since the parents contribute the chromosomes ______________ to each new child, every child inherits a unique set of chromosomes.
16. As a result, every baby will have a _______________ combination of traits.
Use the following link to answer question 17. http://www.athro.com/evo/gen/punexam.html
17. Find Monohybrid Crosses ONLY, for the first two questions under monohybrid crosses answer the question for each of the choices in the drop-down box. The first choice is bb genotype, and you pick the chance of having it. Then you change the bb genotype to another and pick the chances again, it will tell you if you are right or wrong.
Using the information you learned above, answer the following question, showing your OWN work, in the space provided.
18. What are the chances of having a child with a hitchhiker’s thumb if both parents are hybrids?
Conclusion
Can you:
- explain the key terms DNA, gene, chromosome, trait, genotype, and phenotype
- describe where DNA is found in the body
- explain that genes code for specific proteins
- explain the basic concept of inheritance – that parents pass chromosomes on to their children
- explain how our phenotypes are a result of an interaction between genetic make-up and environmental factors
- give some examples of environmental factors that affect our phenotypes.