Mendelian Genetics, Probability, Pedigrees, and Chi-Square Statistics

Topic

Resource Type

Level

High School — AP/IB College

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51 Users

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Description

This activity has been archived while we produce a more up-to-date version of this activity and the accompanying film. We are hoping the new activity and film will be available by the end of 2021.

In this activity, students apply concepts pertaining to the genetics of sickle cell disease and its relationship to malaria explored in the short film The Making of the Fittest: Natural Selection in Humans.

Students work through questions and problems in three sections: Mendelian genetics and probability, pedigrees, and chi-square statistics. Within each section, the questions sequentially move from a more basic to a more advanced level to develop students’ skills.

The “Resource Google Folder” link directs to a Google Drive folder of resource documents in the Google Docs format. Not all downloadable documents for the resource may be available in this format. The Google Drive folder is set as “View Only”; to save a copy of a document in this folder to your Google Drive, open that document, then select File → “Make a copy.” These documents can be copied, modified, and distributed online following the Terms of Use listed in the “Details” section below, including crediting BioInteractive.

Student Learning Targets

Use Punnett squares to predict the frequencies of genotypes in the offspring based on the genotypes of the parents.
Analyze pedigrees to deduce genotypes, phenotypes, and probabilities, and use the rules of probability as they relate to genetics problems.
Use the chi-square statistical analysis test to determine the significance of genetics data.

Estimated Time

Two 50-minute class periods.

Key Terms

codominance, dominant trait, genotype, hemoglobin, heterozygote, homozygote, incomplete dominance, independent assortment, phenotype, recessive trait, sickle cell anemia

Terms of Use

The resource is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. No rights are granted to use HHMI’s or BioInteractive’s names or logos independent from this Resource or in any derivative works.