Genetic Switches

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Topic

Resource Type

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
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13 Users

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.

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 Published

NGSS (2013)

HS-LS1.A

AP Biology (2019)

IST-2.A, IST-2.C, IST-2.B, IST-2.D, IST-2.E, IST-3.F

IB Biology (2016)

2.7, 7.2

Vision and Change (2009)

CC2

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