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Creating a Genetic Superhero
The editors at Marvel Comics are tired of the same old characters. They’re all out of ideas
and are on a nationwide search for the next great Marvel hero or villain.
Marvel characters have a well known reputation, and their comic books, movies, and collectibles
are sold by the millions around the world. In order to get people interested in this new character,
the editors want the new character to be related to older Marvel characters.
Your job is to create a proposal to present to the Marvel Comics editors. You must create a new superhero or villain that
will be the son/daughter of 2 well-known Marvel characters. In order for the editors to consider your proposal, you must
prove that your new character is genetically related to the 2 Marvel characters, explain the source of your character’s
special powers, and create a story for your character.
You will submit a written proposal to the editors AND one of the following:
-short story
-theme song
-comic strip
-tv commercial
Part #1: RESEARCH PARENTS
____ 1. Go to www.marvel.com/universe. Search through the Marvel Comics profiles to pick BOTH a
male and female character to be your parents.
mother:_______________father:______________
____ 2. Choose at least 5 genetic traits.
 *DO NOT use superpowers!*
Example:
 Create a data table of genetic traits (see example).
Mother: Storm
Father: Spiderman
 Use the online character profiles to determine the
Traits
Phenotypes
Phenotypes
parents’ phenotypes for the 5 traits you chose.
Eye color
Hazel
Blue
Height
5’11” (5’6” to 6’)
5’10” (5’6” to 6’)
 Record their phenotypes in the table.
____ 3. Determine the alleles for the 5 genetic traits.
 Add 2 columns at the beginning of your data table for Dominant Allele and Recessive Allele.
 Go to www.flip-coin.com. “If it’s Heads” = mother’s allele is dominant
“If it’s Tails” = mother’s allele is recessive
 “Flip” the coin. Record mother’s allele in the matching column of your data table.
 Record father’s allele in the other column. *If father’s allele is the same as mother’s, make up a second allele!*
 Assign a letter to represent the alleles for each of the 5 traits.
(assigned a letter to represent alleles)
Dominant
Recessive
Mother: Storm
Father: Spiderman
Traits
Allele
Allele
Phenotypes
Phenotypes
Eye color
Hazel (H)
Blue (h)
Hazel
Blue
Height
5’ to 5’5” (S)
5’6” to 6’ (s)
5’11” (5’6” to 6’)
5’10” (5’6” to 6’)
Example:
(Coin landed on
“heads” for eye color,
“tails” for height)
(mother & father have same height allele,
so made up a second allele)
____ 4. Determine the parents’ genotypes for the 5 traits.
 Add columns for mother’s Genotype and father’s Genotype.
 Record the parents’ genotypes to each column.
 If a parent has a dominant phenotype, “Flip” the coin.
“If it’s Heads” = homozygous dominant
“If it’s Tails” = heterozygous
Example:
Mother: Storm
Father: Spiderman
Dominant
Recessive
Traits
Allele
Allele
Phenotypes
Genotypes
Phenotypes
Genotypes
Eye color
Hazel (H)
Blue (h)
Hazel
Hh
Blue
hh
Height
5’ to 5’5” (S)
5’6” to 6’ (s)
5’11” (5’6” to 6’)
ss
5’10” (5’6” to 6’)
ss
____ 5. Draw and complete Punnett Squares for the 5 genetic traits.
 Include the probability for all possible offspring phenotypes.
 Write a sentence summarizing what the results of each Punnett Square mean.
____ 6. Determine the parents’ superpowers.
 Use the online character profiles to determine whether each parent’s superpowers are the result of genetics,
environmental factors, or both.
 Explain what each parent’s superpowers are and what they are the result of (if environmental, explain what
happened to give them their power).
Part #2: CREATE YOUR SUPERHERO
____ 7. Add your new superhero to the data table of genetic traits.
 Add columns for the new character’s Phenotype & Genotype.
 For each Punnett Square, pick one of the possible outcomes for the new character to have.
 Add the phenotypes & genotypes you chose to the data table.
Example:
Mother: Storm
Father: Spiderman
Child: FireEye
Dominant
Recessive
Traits
Allele
Allele
Phenotypes
Genotypes
Phenotypes
Eye color
Hazel (H)
Blue (h)
Hazel
Hh
Blue
hh
Hazel
Hh
Height
5’ to 5’5” (S)
5’6” to 6’ (s)
5’11” (5’6” to 6’)
ss
5’10” (5’6” to 6’)
ss
5’6” to 6’
ss
Genotypes Phenotypes
Genotypes
____ 8. Determine your new superhero’s Superpower.
 Explain your superhero’s superpower and how he/she got it: was it genetics, environmental factors, or both?
Did he/she inherit it from one (or both) parent(s)? Did something in the environment cause the super power,
and if so, what happened?
____ 9. Draw your new superhero according to the traits he/she inherited from his/her parents.
 You may use the computer to create your superhero, or draw him/her by hand. (Ask teacher for hero website.)
 Give your new superhero a name.
Part #3: CREATE YOUR PROPOSAL
The purpose of your written proposal is to:
 prove that your new character meets the criteria the Marvel editors are looking for
 explain the genetic methods used to create your new character (you’re the scientist, not the editors!)
 persuade the Marvel editors that your character is a needed addition to the Marvel Universe.
____10. Create the written proposal (final draft) to present to the Marvel editors.
 Your proposal must include your complete data table & all information from steps #1-9 (Punnett Squares,
explanations of superpowers, etc).
 Your proposal should be professional and well organized, but should also catch the editors’ attention. You
want them to choose to pick up your proposal and read it!
____11. Create a short story, comic strip, theme song, or tv commercial that the Marvel editors can use
for the first edition of your superhero’s comic book, television series, or movie.
The Marvel editors are on a very tight schedule, and will only consider proposals that are creative & wellprepared, so show them your best work!!
GOOD LUCK!
Superhero Selection Criteria
Name:_________________Per:_____
WRITTEN PROPOSAL
Characters: (5 pts total)
_____/2 pts
2 appropriate Marvel parents chosen
_____/1 pt
appropriate name for new superhero
_____/2 pts
appropriate drawing/graphic of new superhero
Genetic Traits Data Table: (30 pts total)
_____/2.5 pts appropriate dominant allele for each trait
_____/2.5 pts appropriate letter to represent dominant alleles
Explanation of source of new character’s super powers: (15 pts total)
_____/1 pt
includes father’s super power
_____/3 pts
includes explanation of source of father’s super power
_____/1 pt
includes mother’s super power
_____/3 pts
includes explanation of source of mother’s super power
_____/2 pt
includes child’s super power
_____/5 pts
includes explanation of source of child’s super power
_____/2.5 pts appropriate recessive allele for each trait
_____/2.5 pts appropriate letter to represent recessive alleles
_____/2.5 pts appropriate phenotypes for mother character
_____/5 pts
appropriate genotypes for mother character
_____/2.5 pts appropriate phenotypes for father character
_____/5 pts
appropriate genotypes for father character
_____/2.5 pts appropriate phenotypes for child character
_____/2.5pts appropriate genotypes for child character
Punnett Squares: (30 pts total)
_____/10 pts
parent genotypes set up correctly
_____/10 pts Punnett Square solved correctly
_____/5 pts
includes probabilities of possible outcomes
_____/5 pts
includes sentence summarizing results
SHORT STORY, COMIC STRIP, THEME SONG, or TV COMMERCIAL
_____/10 pts shows thought & creativity
STYLE (10 pts total)
_____/4 pts
persuasive to editors
_____/3 pts
well organized, well labeled, neat & easy to read
_____/3 pts
no spelling/grammar errors
EXTRA CREDIT
_____
+5 for each extra trait (maximum of +25)
(trait must be included through entire project)
GRADE:
_____/100 pts