8.LS3.1: Develop and use a model to describe why structural changes to genes…

Genes and Traits: Heredity and Punnett Squares Grades 7–8

Why you look like your family but not exactly, how two purple-flowered pea plants can have a white-flowered one, what Gregor Mendel really counted, and what happens when a gene changes. Four no-materials lessons with printed allele cards, Punnett squares, Mendel's own data and a real gene to decode.

• What happens when a gene changes? 45–60 min

  Students decode the first words of the real human haemoglobin gene, apply five mutation cards and see which changes alter the protein. Then they stand in the corner of the room that matches each real case: harmful, neutral, helpful or it depends. They explain how a change in a gene can change a protein and a trait.

Printable practice for 8.LS3.1

• Genes and Traits: Heredity and Punnett Squares workbook included with the unit

  1 word wall, 1 English-support page, 1 practice page, 1 reading, 1 unit review, 1 unit test, with answer keys.

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