Genetics
Eye color, hair color, height, and other traits as well as predisposition to certain diseases are all determined by genes. This sampling of resources take you into the world of heredity and genetics and the cutting edge technologies of cloning, gene therapy, and DNA forensics.
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Related pages
- Interdisciplinary integrated unit on DNA and genetics Part A: Science: The first part of an interdisciplinary week-long unit on DNA and genetics, focusing on science. Parts B and C of the unit focus on math and language arts.
- Low-tech PCR: This simulation and manual PCR demonstration is designed for classrooms without a thermocycler and those that do not have enough time to do a full manual PCR. It is designed to give students the concepts and vocabulary as well as give them a visual representation of the process.
- Modeling bacterial transformation: This lesson walks students through the process of bacterial transformation. It is ideal for classrooms that do not have the time or money for all students to complete a bacterial transformation.
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The following sampling of instructional resources found on LEARN NC helps students learn about the world of genetics and and how the knowledge of the humane genome can be used in many ways.
Lesson Plans
- Life: From diversity of DNA
- A collection of four units for seventh and eighth grade science covering human body systems, genetics, cells, and microbes and disease. (7th Grade)
- Interdisciplinary integrated unit on DNA and genetics Part A: Science
- Part of an interdisciplinary week-long unit on DNA and genetics with activities in science, math, and language arts. This lesson is Part A: Science. Students complete a teacher-made scavenger hunt as an introduction to DNA and genetics, then watch a short video and use their science books to learn more about the topic. Students work in pairs to investigate DNA, genetics, and cloning through internet research and compile their information in the form of their own internet scavenger hunt. (7th Grade)
- A Mendel seminar
- The Science NetLinks lesson, constructed around Gregor Mendel’s 1865 paper, is an advanced lesson in history, scientific inquiry, methodology, classical genetics, and plant biology. In this lesson, students are guided through a thorough discussion of part of the paper Mendel wrote about his pea plant experiments. (Grades 9-12)
- Cracking the genetic Code
- In this lesson, students learn how DNA can tell us about other organisms and species. They will also learn more about the Human Genome Project, an international research program that is “mapping” the human genome and determining the complete sequence of human DNA. (Grades 9-12)
- Cancer Risks
- The purpose of this lesson is to describe environmental and hereditary factors that increase the chance of developing cancer. Using online resources, students answer questions that help guide their investigation. Science NetLinks provides student and teacher activity sheets, several links to helpful web resources, and detailed instructions for completing the lesson. (Grades 9-12)
Websites
- DNA from the Beginning
- A textbook-like resource organized around key concepts: classical genetics,
molecules of genetics, and genetic organization and control. The science behind
each concept is explained with animation, image galleries, video interviews, problems, biographies, and links. - The Gene Scene
- Learn about DNA and genetics including issues like ethics in cloning, nature vs. nurture, and genetic modification. By Ology, a program of the American Museum of Natural History.
- Gene School
- This ThinkQuest site includes fundamental information about heredity and population genetics. Try the Probability and Heredity experiment or debate the issues in Genetic Testing.
- CELLS alive!
- Cell Biology, Microbiology, Cell Models and Immunology. Use this site to learn more about cell parts and what they do as well as how different kinds of cells function.
- The Virtual Cell Web Page
- Examine the parts of a cell up close and defined. Students who are visual learners will love learning about cells in this format.
- Genetics Science Learning Center
- Learn how to extract DNA from any living thing and find out about DNA, stem cells, genetic disorders, and gene therapy.
- The Tech Museum of Innovation
- This website describes the Tech Museum of Innovation located in San Jose, CA. The museum focuses on technology, including how it works and the way that it is changing every aspect of the way people work, live, play and learn. There are online exhibits on the website about genetics, lasers, DNA, Mount Everest, Earthquakes, Color, and more.
- Blazing a Genetics Trail
- Blazing a Genetic Trail is a website from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and provides information and reports on flawed genes that cause disease.
- The Human Genome Project Information
- Begun in October 1990 the Human Genome Project goals were to determine the complete sequence of the 3 billion DNA subunits (bases), identify all human genes, and make them accessible for further biological study. A high-quality, “finished” sequence was completed in 2003. Information on this project is found on this site in great detail.
