Genetic Switches

Launch Interactive
Topic
Resource Type
Level
High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
Description

This two-slide tutorial describes how genetic switches, regulatory elements in DNA, control gene expression.

Genetic switches can turn genes on and off in different tissues. In this Click & Learn, students explore two examples: the regulation of the Pitx1 gene in stickleback fish, which affects body morphology, and the regulation of the “paintbrush” gene in Drosophila fruit flies, which affects wing pigmentation.

Details
Estimated Time
One 50-minute class period.
Key Terms

enhancer, regulation, regulatory switch, tissue-specific expression, transcription

Terms of Use

Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.

Version History
Date Created
Curriculum Connections
NGSS (2013)

HS-LS1.A

AP Biology (2015)

2.E.1, 3.A.1, 3.B.1, 3.B.2

IB Biology (2016)

2.7, 7.2

Vision and Change (2009)

CC2

Explore Related Content

Other Resources About Stickleback Fish
Showing of
Data Points
Schooling Behavior of Stickleback Fish from Different Habitats
Interactive Videos
Interactive Assessment for Evolving Switches, Evolving Bodies
Data Points
Pelvic Evolution in Sticklebacks
Clips
Fossil Record of Stickleback Evolution
Animations
Regulatory Switches in Stickleback Fish
Clips
Stickleback Fish Environment
Short Films
The Making of the Fittest: Evolving Switches, Evolving Bodies
Virtual Labs
Stickleback Evolution Virtual Lab
Film Activities
Activity for Evolving Switches, Evolving Bodies
Labs & Demos
Modeling the Regulatory Switches of the Pitx1 Gene in Stickleback Fish
Other Related Resources
Showing of
Animations
Regulatory Switches in Stickleback Fish
Animations
Regulatory Switches in Drosophila
Animations
Seeing Single Molecules Move
Lessons
Zebrafish and Skin Color
Animations
Role of p53 in Transcription
Animations
The Mammalian Biological Clock
Animations
Regulation of Eukaryotic DNA Transcription
Animations
RNA Splicing
Click & Learn
Regulation of the Lactase Gene
Click & Learn
Visualizing Gene-Expression Patterns