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Using Genetic Crosses to Analyze a Stickleback Trait

Image of stickleback cards from the activity

Topic

  • Genetics
  • Patterns of Inheritance
  • Evolution
  • Population Genetics
  • Math & Computational Skills
  • Data Analysis
  • Statistics

Resource Type

  • Activities
  • Card Activities

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IB
Saved By
28 Users
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Description

In this hands-on activity, students analyze the results of genetic crosses between stickleback fish with different traits. It complements the film Evolving Switches, Evolving Bodies.

The activity begins with watching a portion of the short film Evolving Switches, Evolving Bodies. Students then apply the principles of Mendelian genetics to analyze the results of genetic crosses between stickleback fish with different traits. Students use photos of actual research specimens (the F1 and F2 cards) to obtain their data; they will then analyze the data they collected along with additional data from the scientific literature. In the extension activity, students use chi-square analysis to determine the significance of their results.

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 and phenotypes in the offspring of a genetic cross, based on the genotypes of the parent.
  • Develop hypotheses about whether a phenotype is dominant or recessive and evaluate the evidence in support of or against these hypotheses.
  • Simulate a cross to determine the genotype of an individual with a dominant phenotype.
  • Use chi-square analysis to determine the significance of genetic data.

Estimated Time

One to two 50-minute class periods.

Key Terms

F1 generation, F2 generation, genotype, offspring, phenotype, Punnett square, test cross, trait, statistical analysis

Primary Literature

Cresko, William A., Angel Amores, Catherine Wilson, Joy Murphy, Mark Currey, Patrick Phillips, Michael A. Bell, Charles B. Kimmel, and John H. Postlethwait. “Parallel genetic basis for repeated evolution of armor loss in Alaskan threespine stickleback populations.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 101, 16 (2004): 6050–6055. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0308479101.

Terms of Use

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

Version History

Date Published 04.22.12
Date Updated 04.21.20

NGSS (2013)

HS-LS3-1, HS-LS3-3; SEP2, SEP4, SEP5, SEP6

AP Biology (2019)

EVO-1.D, EVO-1.E, EVO-1.J, EVO-1.N, EVO-3.A, IST-2.A, IST-2.E, IST-4.B, SYI-3.D, ENE-4.B; SP1, SP2, SP3, SP4, SP5, SP6

IB Biology (2016)

3.4, 10.2

Common Core (2010)

ELA.RST.9–12.3, ELA.RST.9–12.7, ELA.WHST.9–12.1
Math.S-IC.1, Math.S-IC.4; MP2, MP3

Vision and Change (2009)

CC3; DP1, DP2, DP3

Materials

Resource Google Folder (link)
Teacher Materials (PDF) 625 KB
Student Handout (PDF) 955 KB
F1 Stickleback Cards (PDF) 5 MB
F2 Stickleback Cards (PDF) 12 MB

Additional Materials

  • two sets of fish cards

  • calculator

Use This Resource With

Video Resource
The Making of the Fittest: Evolving Switches, Evolving Bodies

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