Mr. Shannon

Living Environment

Lesson Objective / SWBAT explain and discuss evidence for inheritance.
SWBAT describe the relationship between nucleus, chromosomes, genes, DNA, alleles, traits and inheritance.
AIM: How did Mendel explain inheritance?
AIM: How are traits inherited?
Aligned State Standard / 2.1b – Every organism requires a set of coded instructions for specifying its traits. For offspring to resemble their parents, there must be a reliable way to transfer information from one generation to the next. Heredity is the passage of these instructions from one generation to another.
2.1a - Genes are inherited, but their expression can be modified by interactions with the environment.
2.1c - Hereditary information is contained in genes, located in the chromosomes of each cell. An inherited trait of an individual can be determined by one or by many genes, and a single gene can influence more than one trait. A human cell contains many thousands of different genes in its nucleus.
Assessment / Exit Ticket
Lesson Agenda / Opening: Do Now, Introduction
INM: Intro to Genetics
GP: DNA/Chromosome Model
IP: ‘Breeding Albino Lemmings” Flash Activity
Closing
Do Now:
List the first five things that come to mind when you hear the word “genetics”.
Introduction to New Material:
Key Points:
·  Genes are the hereditary factors that determine the characteristic of an organism and can be passed from one generation to another.
·  Chromosomes are tightly coiled strands of DNA.
·  The gene-chromosome theory states that genes are segments of DNA located on chromosomes.
·  Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is stored in the nucleus of every cell.
·  Though genes are inherited, their expression can be modified by interactions with the environment. / Method:
PowerPoint slides with guided notes (graphic organizer).
Guided Practice:
Teacher:
Spool of thread demonstration to model DNA/chromosomes. / Students:
Students will complete the questions on their worksheet related to the spool of thread demo. They will draw themselves a picture to show how chromosomes, genes and DNA are related.
Checking for Understanding
Questions?
If the spool represents a chromosome, what does the thread represent?
What would the different colored segments represent? / Ideal Responses?
The thread represents DNA.
The colored segments represent different genes. / Target…
Randomly target all students.
Independent Practice:
Students will complete the Breeding Albino Lemmings online Punnett Square flash activity. / Teacher will circulate around the room to monitor completion of the online task.
Genes are the hereditary factors that determine the characteristic of an organism and can be passed from one generation to another. The study of genetics is to trace these traits from parent to offspring to determine how certain characteristics are inherited. However, though genes are inherited, their expression can be modified by interactions with the environment.
HW: Read the sleepy gene article. Write a one paragraph summary.

Discovery High School