Whats a pedigree? Practice creating and understanding pedigrees with this worksheet. (Open the .doc here)
This week, we are working with pedigrees in order to get a better understanding of inheritance and gene flow from one generation to the next. Students will complete their own pedigrees using the iPad app "Power Lineage." This app is GREAT because it is not only a fun tool for learning more about genetics, but it is also HIPAA Compliant so that personal information remains private. It can trace disease and heredity for many genes and provide individual analysis.
To begin, students will make their possible genotypes for the observable human characteristics described here. Then, students will begin to complete the genotypes for their family members, in order to great a more complete picture of their own alleles.When determining alleles, be sure to add in the "Widow's Peak," shown below.
Students will Also add their blood type information. Here is a great key to explaining the role of genetics in blood type.
How does a seemingly useless gene play a role in evolution of traits? Click here to find out more about the PTC test (and why tasting such a disgusting piece of paper could really be a good deal!).
Ask yourself now, does addiction run in your family? Read more about it here to find out how you can discover the answer!
And what about mental illness?! This page is very informative and complete with podcast clips for audible explanations.
For the scary stuff - genetic disorders. There are many lists provided on the Utah site of various disorders. The lists are organized by the type of inheritance and each disorder has a separate link for more information about it. Single-Gene disorders (cystic fibrosis, Huntington's Disease, sickle cell disease, etc) are all on one list, while Chromosomal Abnormality disorders (Down Syndrome, Klinefelter Syndrome, and Turner's Syndrome) and on another. The site also has information about newborn screening and how it can help keep babies healthy!
Take a look here for more information about the genetic risk for disease. This page gives a list of different risk-associated diseases (like high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and more), which each link out to more information about that disease! Also, you can learn more about how the environment, diet and activity, and cholesterol all play some role in a persons' risk for obtaining those diseases.
Later, we will apply these concepts to variation of traits over time and evolution!
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