Genetics Game: Making Monsters

Need a fun way to allow students to learn basic genetics? During this Monster Genetics Lesson, students will begin with the basic question “What is genetics?” and from there learn the biological process in which a parent passes genes onto their children or offspring. This lesson covers the concepts of chromosomes, genes, traits and basic inheritance modes (autosomal dominant/recessive). By the end of this lesson, students will understand that individuals have two copies of (almost) all genes, one copy from each biological parent and that these genes express specific traits. This lesson allows students to investigate the basic modes of inheritance for single-gene traits (autosomal dominant/recessive) in a highly engaging and interactive game that turns an abstract concept into something truly concrete and easy to comprehend. This comprehensive lesson includes a set of Think BIG Task Cards/Slides (with answers) to help scaffold learning so students can successfully play the game and understand its content at higher levels. Also included is a Monster Genetics student assessment page that requires students to create/color their own monster using their new understanding of inheritance. If you are looking for an interactive, hand-on lesson that starts basic and gradually progresses so students can truly understand fundamental genetics and inheritance, this is the lesson for you.

Big idea: Living organisms pass traits from one generation to the next. Inherited traits of individuals are governed in the genetic material found in the genes within chromosomes in the nucleus. Models help us describe ways sexual reproduction leads to the heredity of genetic variation.

What’s Included in This Product

-Monster Genetics Think BIG Tasks PowerPoint (or Think BIG Task Cards set)

-Monster Genetics Game student handouts (2 total)

-Game board (showing a cross between 2 monster parents)

-Set of monster egg cell cards (16 total)

-Set of monster sperm cell cards (16 total)

-Set of monster offspring cards with points (16 total) (or monster offspring placards with points)

-Monster Making student assessment handout

-Instructional write-up

Standards

NGSS

Core Disciplinary Ideas

• LS1.B: Growth and Development of Organisms

- Organisms reproduce, either sexually or asexually, and transfer their genetic information to their offspring.

• LS3.A: Inheritance of Traits 

- Genes are located in the chromosomes of cells, with each chromosome pair containing two variants of each of many distinct genes. Each distinct gene chiefly controls the production of specific proteins, which in turn affects the traits of the individual. Changes (mutations) to genes can result in changes to proteins, which can affect the structures and functions of the organism and thereby change traits.

- Variations of inherited traits between parent and offspring arise from genetic differences that result from the subset of chromosomes (and therefore genes) inherited.

• LS3.B: Variation of Traits 

- In sexually reproducing organisms, each parent contributes half of the genes acquired (at random) by the offspring. Individuals have two of each chromosome and hence two alleles of each gene, one acquired from each parent. These versions may be identical or may differ from each other.

- In addition to variations that arise from sexual reproduction, genetic information can be altered because of mutations. Though rare, mutations may result in changes to the structure and function of proteins. Some changes are beneficial, others harmful, and some neutral to the organism.

Crosscutting Concepts: Cause and effect, and structure and function

Scientific and Engineering Practices: Developing and using models and constructing explanations (for science)

Science Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)

7.14A – TSIET define heredity as the passage of genetic instructions from one generation to the next generation.

7.14B – TSIET compare the results of uniform or diverse offspring from sexual reproduction or asexual reproduction. (Supporting Standard)

7.14C – TSIET recognize that inherited traits of individuals are governed in the genetic material found in the genes within chromosomes in the nucleus. (Supporting Standard)

Other Products You May Like

Chromosomes, Genes, and Basic Genetics Foldable

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By purchasing this file, you agree to the following terms. All rights reserved by author. This product is to be used by the original downloader only for personal or classroom use only. Copying for more than one teacher, classroom, department, school, or school system is prohibited. This product may not be distributed or displayed digitally for public view. All graphics and fonts are also protected by copyright from their original author/artist.

Keywords

genetics, gene, trait, chromosome, pair, offspring, homozygous, heterozygous, autosomal, dominant, recessive, inherited, game, Halloween science