Paper Pet Genomics and Genetic Counselling

Grade level: 7
Time required: 5-10 class periods, depending upon depth of exploration
Cost: $0
MA frameworks: Life science 7, 8, 9.

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This activity extends the "Paper Pets" activity by adding a genome component. Students are provided a genome "map" of the paper pet and are asked to encode and decode the genome during each successive generation. Statistics can be kept about the changing genotypes and phenotypes in the population. A genetic disease is then described and students must detail a procedure that might be used to help those paper pets suffering from the disease. Issues of probability, genomics, Mendelian genetics, Punnett Squares, genetic disease, genetic counselling for parents, and gene splicing therapies can be addressed. This activity is similar to a previously posted activity, and it may be interesting to incorporate the use of the Robolab "DNA reader", but that has not been attempted yet.

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LINK HERE for the Paper Pet Genomics worksheet.