Mendelian Genetic Engineering Activity

Grade level: 7 Time required: 5 class meetings Cost: $200 for LEGO Mindstorms kit MA frameworks: Life science 7, 8

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This activity is an extension of the "Paper Pets" activity for learning Punnett Squares and basic inheritance information. Students encode the genotypes of their paper pets and use the computer to perform "genetic manipulations" and forensic tests of pets of unknown origin. Concepts of Mendelian genetics, Punnett Squares, inheritance, genotype, phenotype, and forensic science can be addressed. Further concepts of genetic engineering and the human genome project can be addressed.

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Link here for Genetic Engineering Worksheets

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Robolab Investigator "DNA Scanner" file HERE.

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Why would it be important to investigate the genetics of an animal, or even to alter or 're-design' them? Perhaps this article brings about a conversation concerning genetic engineering: Wolves' Genetic Diversity Distressingly Low.