Download dragon genetics lab

VOCAB for this sheet:
GENOTYPE—what genes something has
PHENOTYPE—what something looks like
Dragon Genetics!
Welcome to the greatest feat of animal husbandry in the history of the world! You
and you partner will use genetics to create a new baby dragon from the random
mixing of traits. You and your partner will take a complete set of randomly mixed
dragon genes and use them, along with your superb knowledge of genetics (and the
supplied information) to create your unique, wonderful baby dragon. (Makes me all
choked up and misty eyed!)
Procedure:
1. You will work with the person next to you for the first part of the activity (the
popsicle stick part). After that, you’re working on your own.
2. Start with the green chromosome. One person get two Popsicle sticks—one to be
the mama’s chromosomes and one be the dada’s chromosomes. Each side of the stick
represents a chromosome and the two sides together represent the two
chromosomes you, as a surrogate parent dragon, have.
3. Write down the genes on the green chromosome for the mom and the dad in your
data table. Remember, there will be two genes for each parent.
4. Drop the chromosomes onto the table. The side that lands up is the chromosome
you are passing on to your youngin’. Record the information for the genes into your
data table.
5. Have your dragon partner do the same with his/her chromosomes. Remember to
drop them one at a time and to record the results in the data table as they go.
6. Repeat steps 2-5 with the other chromosomes. REMEMBER TO return the
popsicle sticks to the containers as you finish each one.
7. At this point, you can kindly divorce your partner. You’re working on your own
from here on out. Figure out the what the baby dragon looks like by using the
chart. Record this for each trait in the “phenotype” part of the data table.
8. Create your baby dragon. You can either cut out the crummy pictures that on
the handout, glue them together and color them OR you can cut out the crummy
pictures from the handout, tape them together, trace them and then color them OR
you can use your own talents to draw a much nicer version of your baby dragon. Be
sure to give your baby a name and to include your names on the sheet.
9. On a separate sheet of paper (notice there is no room to write actual answers?),
answer the questions that are printed on below the data table.
10. When you are done, staple together the dragon picture, the answers and the
data table and turn them in. Be sure your name is on it!
DRAGON GENOME
DECODING OF THE GENES
Chromosome
Dominant genes
Recessive genes
Green chromosome
A. no chin spike
a. chin spike
B. nose spike
b. no nose spike
C. three head flaps
c. four head flaps
D. no visible ear hole
d. visible ear hole
E. [see below]
___________________________________________________________________________________
Red Chromosome
F. long neck
f. short neck
G. no back hump
g. back hump
H. no back spikes
h. back spikes
I. long tail
i. short tail
J. flat feet
j. arched feet
_______________________________________________________________________________
Blue Chromosome
K. red eyes
k. yellow eyes
L. spots on neck
l. no spots on neck
M. wings
m. no wings
N. no fang
n. fang
O. spots on back
o. no spots on back
______________________________________________________________________________
Yellow Chromosome
P. no spots on thigh
p. spots on thigh
Q. green body
q. purple body
R small comb on head [see below]
r. large comb on head
S. [See below]
T. no elbow spike
t. elbow spike
______________________________________________________________________________
Sex Chromosomes
U. regular thigh
u. pointed thigh
V. four toes
v. three toes
W. no chest plate
w. chest plate
X Chromosome Only
X. no. tail spike
x. tail spike
Z. long arms
z. short arms
+ non-fire breather
- fire breather
Y chromosome only
Y. male sex
Codominant traits
E. eye pointed at each end
S. Red spots
e. round eye
s. yellow spots
Sex-limited traits
R or r Only males have the comb on the head.
Ee. eye round at front only
Ss. orange spots
Names _________________
Green Chromosomes
genes in
Egg Sperm
TRAIT---Phenotype of Baby
Red Chromosomes
genes in
Egg Sperm
TRAIT---Phenotype of Baby
Blue Chromosomes
genes in
Egg Sperm
TRAIT---Phenotype of Baby
Yellow Chromosomes
genes in
Egg Sperm
TRAIT---Phenotype of Baby
Sex Chromosomes
Egg Sperm
TRAIT---Phenotype of Baby
___________________________
Questions
1. How does dropping the stick on the table and writing down the genes
from side facing up show sexual reproduction?
2. Explain how dropping the green, yellow, blue, and red sticks shows that
genes are randomly mixed when they are passed on.
3. The gene for fangs is recessive, but most of the dragons have fangs.
How can this happen? [Hint. The gene that causes dwarfism (achondroplasia) in humans is
dominant.]
4. What is the sex of your baby?
5. What traits are only found in males? Why would that happen?
7a. What traits are more likely to be found in males?
(hint—look at ones that are on
the X chromosome. Males will only have ONE copy of these so they’ll show up more often)
7b. How might these be an advantage to this sex?
[Be creative in your answers.]
8a. What traits are more likely to be found in females? (see the hint on 7a)
8b. How might these be an advantage to this sex?
(see the hint on 7b)