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“Create-A-Being”
Grade Level: Science 10, Life Science (Genetics)
Specific PLO Addressed:
 Apply the principles that govern the inheritance of traits to solve problems
involving simple Mendelian genetics
Class Time: 2 one-hour periods
The original idea for this activity came from a seminar that was developed for elementary
school classes, by the Eureka Science Camp team during the summer of 2001. I have
simply adapted the seminar into an activity suitable for a science 10 class and created a
ruberic by which the students’ work can be assessed.
Preparation: This activity is designed as a summative exercise for the Science 10
Genetics unit. Prior to beginning this exercise the students should have acquired a solid
understanding of Mendelian genetics, the use of punnet squares, and the differences
between complete, incomplete and co-dominance.
Timeline: Give the instructions and worksheets to the students the period before this
project is to be begun. Inform the students that they can build their “being” in any way,
using any materials they wish (within reason of course). If the students wish to construct
a 3-d model of their “being” they should bring any materials they wish to use to the next
class period.
At the beginning of the next class period, hand out the parental information. Do NOT
give the students their parental information until the beginning of the period in which
they will work on the project. This way all students will be working on the same stage of
the project at the same time. It will likely take most of the first class period for the
students to complete the worksheets, and only at the very end of the period will the
fastest students be ready to begin construction of their “being”.
The next class period will be spent constructing, drawing, or somehow creating the
“being”. This may be a good time to also use as review for the chapter test….students
can approach and ask any questions they may have regarding the chapter while working
on the project.
Create-A-Being!!
In this activity, you and a partner will be responsible for the creation of an
entirely original “being”! In order to create this individual you will be required
to draw upon your vast knowledge of genetics (that you acquired during your
studies of Unit 1 so far), and will need to correctly complete a number of
Punnett squares to decide which of a number of traits will be exhibited by your
individual. After deciding upon what the exhibited traits will be, you must
create your individual in any way you see fit. You will also be required to
write a short report describing the various traits of your “being”, along with
any extra interesting information.
The following is a list of the possible traits your “being” may inherit and/or
exhibit…
Hair Colour
Blonde
bb
Black
BB
Brown
Bb
Nose Shape
Small/pointy
ss
Med./Bulbous
Ss
Lg/Beaky
SS
Ear Size
Tiny
tt
Average
Tt
Large
TT
Earlobes
Attached
aa
Unattached
Aa, AA
Body Shape
Skinny
rr
Rounded
Rr, RR
Skin Colour
Purple
pp
Blue
PP
Polka-Dotted
Pp
Limb Length
Short
ww
Mixture
Ww
Long
WW
It is important to note that some of the above traits exhibit complete dominance, while
others exhibit incomplete or co-dominance.
Since all traits are inherited, it is vital to know both the pheno- and genotypes
of the parents in order to calculate the possible pheno- and genotypes of the
offspring. Each pair of students will be given a different set of parental
information from which to construct their individual. All calculations should be
performed on the following worksheets, and these worksheets must be handed
in along with the written report and newly created “being” in order to receive
marks for the activity.
Create-A-Being!!
Worksheets
From the parental information you have been given, please complete the
following Punnett square questions. You will receive 1 mark for each parental
phenotype or genotype that you correctly interpret, 4 marks for each
accurately completed Punnett square, and 2 marks for correctly identifying
and pairing the offspring phenotypes and genotypes.
“We received parental information sheet #_______”
1. Hair Colour – Incomplete Dominance
Maternal Phenotype: _________ Maternal Genotype: ___________
Paternal Phenotype: _________ Paternal Genotype: ___________
Offspring Phenotypes & Genotypes:
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
2. Nose Shape – Incomplete Dominance
Maternal Phenotype: _________ Maternal Genotype: ___________
Paternal Phenotype: _________ Paternal Genotype: ___________
Offspring Phenotypes & Genotypes:
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
3. Ear Size – Incomplete Dominance
Maternal Phenotype: _________ Maternal Genotype: ___________
Paternal Phenotype: _________ Paternal Genotype: ___________
Offspring Phenotypes & Genotypes:
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
4. Earlobe Appearance – Complete Dominance
Maternal Phenotype: _________ Maternal Genotype: ___________
Paternal Phenotype: _________ Paternal Genotype: ___________
Offspring Phenotypes & Genotypes:
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
5. Body Shape – Complete Dominance
Maternal Phenotype: _________ Maternal Genotype: ___________
Paternal Phenotype: _________ Paternal Genotype: ___________
Offspring Phenotypes & Genotypes:
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
6. Skin Colour – Co-dominance
Maternal Phenotype: _________ Maternal Genotype: ___________
Paternal Phenotype: _________ Paternal Genotype: ___________
Offspring Phenotypes & Genotypes:
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
7. Limb Length – Co-dominance
Maternal Phenotype: _________ Maternal Genotype: ___________
Paternal Phenotype: _________ Paternal Genotype: ___________
Offspring Phenotypes & Genotypes:
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
___________________________
Now that you have discovered the possible genotypes and corresponding
phenotypes…how to discover which ones your individual will exhibit?
Calculate the probability of each genotype and phenotype, and assign the
trait with the highest probability to your individual. In the case of equal
probabilities, flip a coin to decide which trait will be exhibited. It is
important to note that in reality it is not always the trait with the
highest probability of being inherited that is inherited! List the traits
that your individual will exhibit in the following table along with their
probabilities.
Trait
Genotype
Probability
Hair Colour
%
Nose Shape
%
Ear Size
%
Earlobe Appearance
%
Body Shape
Skin Colour
%
%
Limb Length
%
Phenotype
Create-A-Being!!
Worksheets
1. Draw a picture of each parent creature you were assigned.
2. Draw a picture of the offspring that they created (use the traits you
determined from your Punnett squares)
3. Does your offspring look identical to either of the parent creatures?
4. Which parent does your offspring more closely resemble?
5. Why do you think they more closely resemble that parent? (hint, think
in terms of genotypes)
Challenge Question:
6. Using all of the knowledge that you have gained from our study of
genetics so far, explain HOW it is that 23 chromosomes inherited
from each parent can result in an offspring that exhibits
characteristics of both parents. Try to include as many of the following
words as you can in your explanation: DNA, gene, mRNA, tRNA, transcription,
translation, amino acid, protein, chromosomes, traits, dominant, recessive,
complete dominance, incomplete dominance, codominance, inheritance
Sample Parental Information Sheets
Give a different information sheet to each group. Make sure the students
know that each group is working with different information; this should
hopefully eliminate copying between groups.
Information Sheet #1
Mom
Blonde hair, small/pointy nose, avg. ear size, attached earlobes, skinny, polka
dotted skin colour, long limbs
Dad
Brown hair, large/beaky nose, large ears, heterozygous unattached earlobes,
skinny purple body with short limbs.
Information Sheet #2
Mom
Black hair, small/pointy nose, large ear size, homozygous unattached
earlobes, heterozygous rounded blue body with long limbs
Dad
Brown hair, medium/bulbous nose, small ears, attached earlobes, skinny polka
dotted body with mixed-length limbs.
Information Sheet #3
Mom
Brown hair, large/beak-like nose, avg. ear size, attached earlobes, skinny,
purple body with long limbs.
Dad
Blonde hair, small/pointy nose, large ears, homozygous unattached earlobes,
homozygous round polka dotted body with short limbs.
Information Sheet #4
Mom
Blonde hair, med/bulbous nose, avg. ear size, heterozygous unattached
earlobes, skinny, polka dotted skin colour, long limbs
Dad
Brown hair, large/beaky nose, large ears, attached earlobes, homozygous
rounded purple body with short limbs.
Information Sheet #5
Mom
Black hair, small/pointy nose, tiny ear size, heterozygous unattached
earlobes, heterozygous rounded blue body with long limbs
Dad
Blonde hair, medium/bulbous nose, tiny ears, attached earlobes, skinny polka
dotted body with mixed-length limbs.
Information Sheet #6
Mom
Brown hair, large/beak-like nose, avg. ear size, attached earlobes, skinny,
purple body with long limbs.
Dad
Blonde hair, small/pointy nose, tiny ears, homozygous unattached earlobes,
heterozygous round polka dotted body with short limbs.
Information Sheet #7
Mom
Black hair, small/pointy nose, avg. ear size, attached earlobes, skinny, polka
dotted skin colour, long limbs
Dad
Brown hair, large/beaky nose, large ears, heterozygous unattached earlobes,
skinny purple body with short limbs.
Information Sheet #8
Mom
Blonde hair, small/pointy nose, large ear size, homozygous unattached
earlobes, heterozygous rounded blue body with long limbs
Dad
Brown hair, medium/bulbous nose, tiny ears, attached earlobes, skinny polka
dotted body with mixed-length limbs.
Information Sheet #9
Mom
Brown hair, large/beak-like nose, tiny ear size, attached earlobes, skinny,
purple body with long limbs.
Dad
Blonde hair, small/pointy nose, average ears, homozygous unattached
earlobes, homozygous round polka dotted body with short limbs.
Information Sheet #10
Mom
Blonde hair, med/bulbous nose, avg. ear size, heterozygous unattached
earlobes, skinny, polka dotted skin colour, mixed-length limbs
Dad
Brown hair, large/beaky nose, large ears, attached earlobes, homozygous
rounded purple body with short limbs.
Information Sheet #11
Mom
Black hair, small/pointy nose, tiny ear size, homozygous unattached earlobes,
heterozygous rounded blue body with short limbs
Dad
Blonde hair, medium/bulbous nose, tiny ears, attached earlobes, skinny polka
dotted body with mixed-length limbs.
Information Sheet #12
Mom
Brown hair, large/beak-like nose, avg. ear size, attached earlobes, skinny,
purple body with long limbs.
Dad
Blonde hair, small/pointy nose, tiny ears, homozygous unattached earlobes,
heterozygous round polka dotted body with short limbs.