Download Heredity Lab: The Passing of Traits from Grandparents to

Name__________________________________Date_____________________Sec_______
Heredity Lab: The Passing of Traits from
Grandparents to Grandchildren
Objectives:
•
•
•
To simulate the transmission of genetic information from grandparents to parents to
children
To collect and interpret data on the diversity of patterns possible from such a transmission
To relate the physical attributes of humans to the genetic information received from
previous generations
Materials:
24 colored objects (8different colors)
6 labeled cups
colored pencils/markers
Procedure:
1.
Place the cups labeled Grandfather 1, Grandmother 1, Grandfather 2, Grandmother 2,
Father and Mother in the same arrangement on your desk as shown on the Generations
Diagram.
2.
Place two colored objects in each of the following cups: Grandfather 1 & 2 and
Grandmother 1 & 2.
3.
Each cup should have a total of six objects, three of each of the same color. The objects
represent genes of each grandparent…those portions of the chromosome which
determine the characteristics (traits) that the grandparents will pas on to their children
and grandchildren. Color the diagram to show the colors used for each grandparent.
4.
Without looking, have one student pick up 3 “genes” from the Grandfather 1 cup and 3
“genes” from the Grandmother 1 cup. These genes represent the son of the first
grandparents; the son who will grow up to become a father himself. Place them in the
cup marked Father. The father now has six genes, just as did each of his parents.
5.
Without looking, take three “genes” from the Grandfather 2 and Grandmother 2 cups.
Place them in the cup marked Mother. The mother should now have six genes, just as did
each of her parents.
6.
Color the diagram to show the genes for the father and mother. Place the grandparent
cups aside.
7.
Assume that the father and mother have four children: Alan, Betty, Carl and Debbie. To
find Alan’s genes, draw without looking, three genes each from the Father and Mother
cups. Color the diagram to show the genes that were picked for Alan.
8. Return all genes to the parents’ cups. Be sure the father and mother get
the same genes they started with!
9.
Repeat step #7 for each of the remaining two children. Color the diagram for each child.
10. Summarize you data in the data table. In each box write the number of genes each child
received from each grandparent. (The total should always be six).
GENERATIONS DIAGRAM
Alan
Betty
Carl
Debbie
6
6
6
6
Grandfather 1
Gene Color:________________
Gene Color:________________
Grandmother 1
Gene Color:________________
Gene Color:________________
Grandfather 2
Gene Color:________________
Gene Color:________________
Grandmother 1
Gene Color:________________
Gene Color:________________
Total # of Genes
Analysis Questions
1.
Were any of the four children exactly alike?___________
Do you think you would have different results if you were working with many hundreds of
genes instead of only six? Explain.
2.
Why was it necessary to take 3 genes from the Mother cup and three genes from the Father cup to
make the total of six genes in each child? What type of cell division does this represent?
3.
Why was it necessary to return the genes to the cups of the Mother and Father each time before
creating the next sibling?
4.
If these were real genes, which children would look most alike? Explain your answer.
5.
Which of the children you created would most resemble the mother? The Father? A particular
grandparent (…which grandparent?)