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Essay Contest Reveals Misconceptions of High School Students in Genetics Content
Supplementary Table 1. Examples of the Range of Patterns of Inheritance Coverage in
State Standards
Specific to Broad State
Text From Standard
Most Specific
Knowledge
Virginia
Mendel’s laws of heredity are based on his mathematical
analysis of observations of patterns of inheritance of
traits.
The laws of probability govern simple genetic
recombinations.
Genotype describes the genetic make-up of an organism
and phenotype describes the organism’s appearance
based on its genes.
Homozygous individuals have two identical alleles for a
particular trait, while heterozygous individuals have
contrasting alleles.
When one allele masks the effect of another, that allele
is called dominant and the other recessive. When an
intermediate phenotype occurs and no allele dominates,
incomplete dominance results.
Skills
Predict possible gametes in a dihybrid cross, given
parental genotypes.
Use a Punnett square to show all possible combinations
of gametes and the likelihood that particular
combinations will occur in monohybrid crosses.
The sorting and recombination of genes in sexual
reproduction results in a great variety of gene
combinations in the offspring of any two parents.
Inserting, deleting, or substituting DNA bases can alter
genes. An altered gene may be passed on to every cell
that develops from it, causing an altered phenotype.
An altered phenotype may be beneficial or detrimental.
Sometimes entire chromosomes can be added or deleted,
resulting in a genetic disorder such as Trisomy 21
(Down syndrome).
Skill
Evaluate karyotype charts.
Knowledge
Forensic identification is an example of the application
of DNA technology.
There is great potential for the development of useful
products through genetic engineering (e.g., human
growth hormone, insulin, and pest- and disease-resistant
fruits and vegetables).
Eugenics, a pseudo-science of selective procreation, was
a movement throughout the twentieth century,
worldwide as well as in Virginia, that demonstrated a
misuse of the principles of heredity.
The Human Genome Project is a collaborative effort to
map the entire gene sequence of organisms. This
information will be useful in detection, prevention, and
treatment of many genetic diseases.
The potential for identifying and altering genomes raises
practical and ethical questions.
Cloning is the production of genetically identical cells
and/or organisms.
Virginia high school biology standards are available at:
http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Instruction/Science/ScienceCF-BIO.pdf
Specific
Missouri
“The pattern of inheritance for many traits can be
predicted by using the principles of Mendelian
genetics.
Scope and Sequence – Genetics and Heredity
a. Explain how genotypes (heterozygous and
homozygous) contribute to phenotypic variation within a
species
b. Predict the probability of the occurrence of specific
traits, including sex-linked traits, in an offspring by
using a monohybrid cross
c. Explain how sex-linked traits may or may not result in
the expression of a genetic disorder (e.g., hemophilia,
muscular dystrophy, color blindness) depending on
gender”
Missouri high school biology standards are available at:
http://www.dese.mo.gov/divimprove/curriculum/webframeworks/05SC.PDF
Broad
Arizona
“Understand the molecular basis of heredity and
resulting genetic diversity.
PO1. Analyze the relationships among nucleic acids
(DNA, RNA), genes, and chromosomes.
PO2. Describe the molecular basis of heredity, in viruses
and living things, including DNA replication and protein
synthesis.
PO3. Explain how genotypic variation occurs and results
in phenotypic diversity.
PO4. Describe how meiosis and fertilization maintain
genetic variation.”
Arizona high school biology standards are available at:
http://www.ade.state.az.us/standards/science/downloads/strand4.pdf
Most Broad
Wisconsin
“Explain current scientific ideas and information about
the molecular and genetic basis of heredity” (2005).
Wisconsin high school biology standards are available at:
http://dpi.state.wi.us/standards/sciintro.html