Genetics is like a secret code that tells your body how to grow and function. It's the study of how traits are passed down from parents to their children, and how genes can influence everything from eye color to disease risk.

Students will work in pairs in the lab to produce a dragon from the random mixing of genetic traits. Each student will be a surrogate dragon parent. They will pick up a complete set of dragon chromosomes. Surrogate dragon parent partners must be of the opposite sex, therefore one parent must pick up the double X chromosomes while the other must pick up the X/Y chromosomes. The homologous chromosomes will be separated according to Mendel’s law of Independent Assortment. The genetic codes that are passed on to the baby will be recorded on the following pages. The surrogate parents must then decode the genes inherited by their bundle of joy to determine the phenotype traits of their baby. Using the pictures at the end of the handout, they will cut out these traits and paste them together to have a picture of their baby.

What happens when two dragons have a baby? You and a partner each pick up a set of dragon chromosomes (sticks with genetic codes). Each stick has two sides. One side is dominant. The other is recessive (the weaker version).

You drop each stick on the table. The side facing up is the gene passed to the baby. You record every trait on a chart. Then you decode each gene pair to find out what the baby looks like.

Finally, you cut out the matching body parts and build a picture of your dragon. Every trait follows Mendel's law of independent assortment (each trait is inherited separately).

DRAGON GENETICS: PRINCIPLES OF MENDELIAN GENETICS

BACKGROUND

Students will work in pairs in the lab to produce a dragon from the random mixing of genetic traits. Each student will be a surrogate dragon parent. They will pick up a complete set of dragon chromosomes. Surrogate dragon parent partners must be of the opposite sex, therefore one parent must pick up the double X chromosomes while the other must pick up the X/Y chromosomes. The homologous chromosomes will be separated according to Mendel’s law of Independent Assortment. The genetic codes that are passed on to the baby will be recorded on the following pages. The surrogate parents must then decode the genes inherited by their bundle of joy to determine the phenotype traits of their baby. Using the pictures at the end of the handout, they will cut out these traits and paste them together to have a picture of their baby.

PROCEDURE

1. Choose a partner carefully. You and your spouse will share the grade for this lab. Your instructor does not care which partner worked the hardest. This is a no divorce classroom. The lab must be completed on time.
2. Each partner must pick up five Popsicle sticks -- one of each color of autosome, and one sex chromosome stick. Each side of a stick represents a chromosome, and the two sides together represent a pair of homologous chromosomes.
3. For each color autosome and then for the sex chromosomes, each parent will randomly drop his or her stick on the table. The side of the stick that is up represents the chromosome that is passed on to the baby.
4. The alleles from each pair of homologous chromosomes will be recorded in the data chart on pages 3-4.
5. The decoding chart on page 2 indicates the phenotypic effect of each gene. The trait produced by each pair of alleles should be recorded in the data chart. Remember that a CAPITAL letter is dominant over a small letter [recessive] unless the decoding chart indicates those traits are codominant, sex-influenced, or sex-limited.
6. The students will cut out the traits for their baby. Fit them together and produce a picture of the baby. Students may trace the traits to produce their baby’s picture or just glue them to the page.
7. The baby’s colors will be added to the picture, if possible; otherwise indicate the baby’s colors below the picture.


Dragon Genetics and Mendelian Traits

Demonstrate the principles of Mendelian genetics

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Biochemistry is the study of the chemistry of living things. Biochemists study how different molecules like DNA and proteins work together to sustain life. The groundbreaking discoveries in biochemistry continue to lead to the discovery of new medicines and cutting-edge treatments for diseases.

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Dragon Genetics and Mendelian Traits

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