Download Baby Reebops: Marshmallow Meiosis

Baby Reebops: Marshmallow Meiosis
Originally created by Center for Biology Education @ the
University of Wisconsin with a myriad of variations on the web.
Purpose:
To explore genetic variation in species by
constructing baby “Reebops.”
Materials: (magic markers, scissors)
Antenna= ¼ pipe cleaner
Eyes= thumbtacks
Humps on back= mini orange or pink marshmallows connected with
half toothpicks
Nose color= mini green or yellow marshmallows connected with half toothpicks
Legs (number)= toothpicks (red or blue) Tail= pipe cleaner
Body Segments and Head= large white marshmallows connected with toothpicks
Procedure:
1. Divide into groups according to your teacher‟s instructions.
2. Each group will receive one set of each parents chromosomes. .
3. One color of chromosomes is from the mother and the other is from the father. On your answer sheet,
designate which chromosomes belong to which parent before you start.
(ie. Mother‟s Chromosomes = red, Father‟s Chromosomes = red)
4. A chromosome pair will be the same length. Cut out your chromosomes. Lay the mother‟s chromosome
pairs in a row, face down to the left of your lab table. Do the same for the father‟s chromosomes except
place them to the right.
5. Pick one chromosome from each of the mother‟s pairs and separate it from the other chromosomes. Place
the leftover (unpicked) chromosomes back in the envelope.
6. Do the same for the father‟s chromosomes and place the “unpicked” chromosomes back in the envelope.
Place the “picked” chromosomes with the mother‟s chromosomes
7. You should have 7 chromosomes from the mother and 7 from the father.
8. Turn the chromosomes over and match the chromosome pairs (chromosomes of the same length are
chromosome pairs).
9. On your answer sheet, write down the 7 gene pairs (genotypes) that were selected.
10. Next write down the phenotypes (physical traits or features) that your baby reebop will have. Use the chart
provided to decode your reebop genes.
11. Based on your baby reebop‟s traits, make a „shopping list‟ of the parts you‟ll need to build your baby by
filling in the chart on your answer sheet. Be sure you‟ve accounted for the total number of toothpicks you
will need!! Once you have checked the list thoroughly, place all of the chromosomes back in the envelope.
12. One person from each group should bring the envelope with ALL of the chromosomes and the shopping
list to the Parts Manager (teacher!) to collect your reebop parts. (DO NOT EAT ANY PART OF YOUR CHILD
OR POINTS WILL BE DEDUCTED FROM YOUR LAB).
13. Using the list you made and the parts you‟ve collected, construct your baby reebop. Once you‟ve finished,
select a name for your baby and write it on a sheet of paper, along with the names of the members in your
group. Take your baby reebop and its name tag to your teacher to turn in for a grade.
Reebop Genetic Decoder:
AA= 2 antenna
Aa = 2 antenna
aa = no antenna
MM = 2 orange back humps
QQ = green nose
Mm = 1 orange/1pink back humps Qq = green nose
mm = 2 pink back humps
qq = yellow nose
EE = 2 clear eyes
Ee = 2 clear eyes
ee = 1 clear eyes
LL = 4 red legs
Ll = 2 red and 2 blue color legs
ll = 4 blue legs
The color of the parent chromosomes: Mother‟s Chromosomes: red
TT = curly tail
Tt = wavy tail
tt = straight tail
DD or Dd = 1 body segment
dd = 2 body segments
Father‟s Chromosomes: green
Chromosome Data for Baby Reebok
Allele
Pair
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Phenotype
Genotype
Part Needed
# of Parts
Diagram your Baby Reebop below labeling the parts its alleles code for and give him/her a name:
1-8. How do the following terms relate to the activities of this lab?
homologous pairgametezygotehaploiddiploidgenetic variationphenotypegenotype-
9. Does your baby have the same GENOTYPE as its parents?
YES
10. Does your baby have the same PHENOTYPE as its parents? YES
NO
NO
11. Name Mendel‟s TWO LAWS that explain why brothers and sisters are not identical even though they come
from the same parents?
LAW OF ______________________________________
LAW OF ______________________________________________
12. Which trait(s) in REEBOPS appears to blend and show INCOMPLETE DOMINANCE?
___________________________
13. Why do you think so? ___________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
14. Which trait(s) in REEBOPS appears to be CODOMINANT? _______________________
15. Why do you think so? _________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
16. What does procedure step 5 represent? _____________________________________________________
17. In procedure step 8, what do chromosome pairs repesent? _____________________________________
18. What do procedure steps 7-8 represent? ____________________________________________________
19-20. Assuming the parental cross was as follows:
AaQqEeDdMmTtLl X AaQqEeDdMmTtLl
a.) What is the possibility of obtaining an aaqqEeddMMTtll offspring? Show your work in determining
this. You may either do a punnett square with 16,384 blocks ot do this using the probability rule I
taught you.
_______________________________________________________________