Genetics & Heredity

Happy New Year and welcome back! We’ll start the week discussing the exam, connecting last month’s content to genetics, then discuss how genes are passed down from generation to generation.

BY THE END OF THIS WEEK, you should be able to:

  • use all appropriate terminology found in your week 19 terms to know,

  • describe the structure of a double helix and how nucleotides form,

  • walk through the process of determining the statistical chances for specific genotypes and phenotypes with continuing generations using a Punnett Square, and

  • describe the phases of meiosis.

Week 19 - Biology

Your Week Ahead

Day 1: An Introduction into Genetics

  1. We’ll start class discussing the semester exam and key points.

  2. You’ll then continue into a broader discussion connecting last month’s discussion of cell division with the week’s concept of heredity. You’ll build a double helix to better understand the right-handedness and antiparallel backbones found within it, then continue with a review of key terms for this week.

  3. AFTER CLASS, read pages 308-315 in your textbook and review your terms for this week. We will be using them next class!

Day 2: Punnett Squares and Meiosis

  1. We’ll pick up where we left off from Day 1 then discuss how we use Punnett Squares to statistically predict possible genotypes of organisms from inherited genes using Punnett Squares, then introduce the steps of meiosis that create this possibility. We’ll also watch a small clip from one of my favorite movies surrounding genetics!

  2. AFTER CLASS, read pages 316-329 in your textbook and be comfortable enough with Punnett Squares to practice next class.

Day 3: Review Punnett Squares and Heredity

  1. We’ll use the day to finish our discussion of monohybrid and dihybrid crosses. By the end of the day, you should feel comfortable with completing Punnett squares and analyzing them.

DOWNLOADED FILES

IMPORTANT DATES

Quiz next week’s Day 3 covering Punnett Squares.

Did you…?

  • … finish your readings (308-329) in the textbook?

  • … study the material from this week to successfully complete either a monohybrid or dihybrid cross without assistance?