Search results for: “science graph”

  • Case Study: How Do Genes Determine Skin Color?

    Case Study: How Do Genes Determine Skin Color?

    This case study focuses on a news story whose headline declares that a “mother is a the only black woman to give birth to two white babies.”    Students look past the sensationalized headline to discover how skin color is controlled by multiple genes and make a final judgement about whether statements made in the…

  • DNA Coloring

    DNA Coloring

    DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is a molecule that carries the genetic instructions used in the growth, development, functioning, and reproduction of all known living organisms and many viruses. It consists of two long chains of nucleotides twisted into a double helix structure. Each nucleotide is composed of a sugar molecule (deoxyribose), a phosphate group, and…

  • Practice Problems:  Genetics and Blood Types

    Practice Problems: Genetics and Blood Types

    This worksheet provides students with practice problems on multiple allele traits, specifically on how blood types are inherited.   The problems focus on the ABO blood groups and students are asked to perform crosses where parents’ blood types are known.   For example, if one parent has type O blood and the other parent has…

  • Investigation – Animal Behavior with Isopods

    Investigation – Animal Behavior with Isopods

    An isopod is a crustacean with a segmented body and seven pairs of legs. They are commonly known as pill bugs, roly-polys, or woodlice. Isopods are found in a variety of habitats, including soil, under rocks, and in decaying wood. They are detritivores, meaning they eat dead and decaying matter. Isopods are an important part…

  • Practice Genetics:  Sex Linked Genes

    Practice Genetics: Sex Linked Genes

    Students learn basic Mendelian genetics by crossing traits from fruit flies and pea plants.  In this extension, students can practice doing crosses that involve sex-linked traits, where the alleles are located on the X chromosome  which affects the pattern of inheritance.   This worksheet is designed for beginning biology students, as it provides in most…

  • The Anatomy of the Kidney and Nephron

    The Anatomy of the Kidney and Nephron

    This coloring worksheet asks students to color the kidney to identify where structures like the medulla, cortex, renal vessels and ureters are located.   Another image focuses on an individual nephron to identify the glomerulus, proximal and distal tubules, and the Loop of Henle. This worksheet is intended for advanced students of anatomy.  Students will…

  • Modeling Independent Assortment & Dihybrid Crosses

    Modeling Independent Assortment & Dihybrid Crosses

    Students examine how two traits are inherited, revealing that each allele has an equal chance of being passed on to the next generation, the principle of independent assortment.

  • Compare a Human and Chimpanzee Skeleton

    Compare a Human and Chimpanzee Skeleton

    This handout can be used in discussions on the evolution of bipedalism or in any unit on the skeletal system.  Students label the bones of the skeleton and make comparisons between the forelimbs, hind limbs, and pelvis. I created this handout to compliment an evolutionary lesson and  video from HHMI on the “Origin of Humans”…

  • Investigation:  Modeling Heredity with Popsicle Sticks

    Investigation: Modeling Heredity with Popsicle Sticks

    In this activity, you will use popsicle sticks to model the process of gamete formation and the combining of sperm and egg to create offspring. Results of the simulation can then be compared to Punnet square expected results. Popsicles should be made in advance, the set contains a male and female set with the genotypes…

  • Simple Mendelian Genetics Practice Problems

    Simple Mendelian Genetics Practice Problems

    Students learning basic Mendelian genetics can practice assigning genotypes and  identifying heterozygous and homozygous configurations.  Squares are set up to do crosses with purple and white flowers as seen in Mendel’s pea plants. The worksheet is very simple, designed for beginning students of biology and genetics.   More difficult versions of genetics practice problems might…

  • Investigation: What Factors Affect Lung Capacity

    Investigation: What Factors Affect Lung Capacity

    In this investigation, students use balloons and rulers to estimate the vital capacity of lungs using test subjects within the class.  To perform the test, subjects take a deep breath and blow into a balloon.  The diameter is measured and a graph is used to estimate the volume of air expelled based on the diameter…

  • Construct a DNA Model Using Marshmallows

    Construct a DNA Model Using Marshmallows

    Use marshmallows and toothpicks to construct a model of DNA. Mini marshmallows represents the nucleotides, large marshmallows represent deoxyribose.

  • Case Study:  Why Are There No Male Calico Cats?

    Case Study: Why Are There No Male Calico Cats?

    This presentation case study asks two important questions regarding cat coloration: The case is presented as a slide presentation where students consider evidence and data related to cat coloration and chromosomes.  Working in small groups, they discuss the case and eventually answer the two main questions. I usually collect their answers at the end of class…

  • Investigation: Habitat Selection in Flour Beetles

    Investigation: Habitat Selection in Flour Beetles

     This activity was modified from an Advanced Placement Investigation for use with freshman classes.   The instructions are clear and require students to examine data and create a graph.   Then students collect their own data using Choice Chambers and can choose which variables they would like to test: wet vs dry, water vs vinegar,  light…

  • Meiosis Case:  SRY not SRY

    Meiosis Case: SRY not SRY

    Students are given a scenario about a female athlete who was stripped of her medal when it was discovered that her cells contain a Y chromosome.