genetics writing prompts - simmons middle school...genetics writing prompt #9 cloning is the process...
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© 2017 Science Rocks
Genetics Writing Prompts
Topics Included:
1. Scientific Method- Inheritance 2. DNA 3. Meiosis- Crossing over 4. Blood Types 5. Gel Electrophoresis 6. Chromosomes 7. Colorblindness 8. Mutations 9. Cloning 10. Pedigree Charts
Why use writing prompts in Science? This past year I taught a biology class of entirely ELL students. In order to get these students to pass the state language proficiency test, I needed strategies to help increase their literacy skills. I created a set of writing prompts with the goal of getting my students to think about scientific phenomena and be able to write about it. I used these prompts as homework before the content was taught. The goal wasn’t for students to correctly describe the science behind the concept, but just to get them thinking and writing. I would have students read their paragraphs aloud when they came to class the next day. Reading the paragraphs out loud is not only a great way to work on fluency and build vocabulary, but also helps uncover misconceptions and start classroom conversations. Throughout the course of the year I saw my students writing skills and confidence increase.
© 2017 Science Rocks
Genetics Writing Prompt #1 At school your teacher taught you about different fingerprint patterns. You wonder if fingerprints are inherited from your parents or if everyone has unique fingerprints. You predict that your fingerprints were inherited from your parents and if examined, will look similar. Write out procedures on how you could test this hypothesis.
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Genetics Writing Prompt #2 The grocery store near your neighborhood was broken into. The thief broke in through a window, and some blood was found on the broken glass. The blood was analyzed and matched to a man named Scott. Investigators discovered that Scott has an identical twin named Adam. Do you think the blood sample from the crime scene will also match Adam’s DNA? If so, how will police know who is guilty of the crime?
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Genetics Writing Prompt #3 Joel and Maria are discussing DNA and cells. Joel- “I think all the cells in the human body are identical. When cells divide, don’t they just make clones of each other?” Maria- “They can’t all be identical. If all my parents’ egg and sperm cells were identical, wouldn’t I be a clone of my sister?” Who do you think is correct, Joel or Maria? Explain your answer.
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Genetics Writing Prompt #4 In the ABO blood group system, there are 4 blood types: A, B, AB, and O. Suppose a husband has type A blood, and a wife has type B blood. After giving birth, the hospital tells the wife that their new baby has blood type O. The wife thinks there must be some mistake! Do you think it is possible for their baby to have type O blood, or did their baby get switched? Explain your answer.
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Genetics Writing Prompt #5 Gel electrophoresis (sometimes called a DNA fingerprint) is a way to visually see fragments of someone’s DNA. A common use for gel electrophoresis is for paternity testing. Using the diagram below, who do you think is the father of the baby? How did you decide on an answer? Do you think this is enough information to be 100% sure of who the father is?
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Genetics Writing Prompt #6 Chromosomes are structures in your cells that hold your DNA. DNA is your genetic information. Examine the chart below showing the number of chromosomes different animals have.
Species Number of Chromosomes Mosquito 6
Pig 38 Human 46 Horse 64 Dog 78
Based on this chart, do you think the number of chromosomes an animal has determines their level of intelligence? In other words, does having more chromosomes make you smarter? Explain your answer.
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Genetics Writing Prompt #7 Colorblindness is a trait that is more common in males than females. On average, 8% of males are colorblind, but only 0.5% of females are colorblind. Why do you think males are affected more often than females? Explain your answer.
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Genetics Writing Prompt #8 Rock Pocket Mice are a species of mice that live in the southwestern United States, an environment that is mostly desert. They are typically tan in color. A rare genetic mutation causes the fur of the mouse to be black. Do you think this mutation has a negative, positive, or no effect on the mouse? Explain your answer.
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Genetics Writing Prompt #9 Cloning is the process of producing genetically identical cells. In 1996, the first successful mammal was cloned. Dolly the sheep only lived 7 years, but she demonstrated to the world that cloning large organisms was possible. What are your feelings about cloning? Do you think it is okay to clone animals, such as a beloved pet that is dying? Do you think it is okay to clone humans? Explain your answer.
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Genetics Writing Prompt #10 Pedigree charts are similar to family trees. Circles represent females, and squares represent males. Pedigree charts are used to show traits that get passed from generation to generation. In this chart, lets assume that being colored in (like person #1) means you have magical powers. Write a story for this family from the point of view of person #2. Some things to include: how many kids do you have? Do they all have magic powers? How many grandkids do you have? How many of them have magic powers? If you could pick any super power, what would you pick? Why?
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Teacher Notes/ Possible Answers: Below are some notes about the writing prompts. Included is basic information about each prompt so you can have some background knowledge about each topic. However, since I assign the prompt before the lesson is taught, I do not grade students on correctness. Writing Prompt #1 There are 3 main fingerprint patterns- arch, loop, and whorl. Studies have shown that both genetic and environmental factors play a role in fingerprint development. The following is one way this experiment could be tested:
1. Using an ink pad, roll your fingers across the ink pad. Then roll your fingers across a piece of paper. Analyze and label each fingerprint.
2. Gather family members and collect fingerprint samples. 3. Analyze and label which fingerprint patterns you see- arch, loop, or
whorl. 4. Repeat for all family members and look for similarities.
Writing Prompt #2 Since identical twins came from the same fertilized egg, they have the same DNA. Throughout their lifetime as new cells are made and DNA gets copied, mutations will occur periodically. However, these mutations are not common enough to show up on a gel electrophoresis DNA test. Police will not be able to figure out who is guilty based on this test alone. Identical twins will have different fingerprints, so if a fingerprint is found at the crime scene you will be able to identify the guilty suspect.
Writing Prompt #3 Joel and Maria are both right- but in different contexts. Joel is correct if you are referring to somatic cells (all cells other than reproductive cells). The majority of the cells in our body divide through a process called mitosis. During this process one cell divides into two, and the daughter cells are genetically identical to the parent cells. The only exception is for egg and sperm cells, which divide through a process called meiosis. Maria is right that if her parents’ sex cells were identical then she would be a twin of her siblings. During prophase 1 of meiosis crossing over occurs, which is a process where chromosomes exchange genetic information. The end result is 4 sex cells that have slightly different DNA. This is why we look similar to our siblings, but not identical. Writing Prompt #4 Yes it is possible for parents with type A and B blood types to have a child with type O blood type. In the Punnett square below, it shows the possible blood types for their children if the parents are heterozygous for A and B
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blood types. They have a 25% chance of having a child with type O blood type (represented “ii” on the Punnett square).
Writing Prompt #5 When reading DNA gels testing for paternity, the child will have banding patterns that match both the mother and father. As you go down the gel for the child, look for banding that did not come from the mother, and then match it up with one of the potential fathers. In this case, “Dad 3” is the father of the child. Writing Prompt #6 The number of chromosomes a species has does not determine its level of intelligence. The information stored in the chromosomes is important, not the chromosome number. Students might point out that horses have more chromosomes than humans, but are not a smarter species. Writing Prompt #7 Colorblindness is a sex linked recessive trait that is on the X chromosome. In order for a female to be colorblind, she needs two copies of the colorblind gene since females have two X chromosomes. Since males only have one X chromosome, they only need one copy of the gene to be colorblind. A sample Punnett square is shown, showing that these parents would have a colorblind son, but the daughter would only be a carrier.
Writing Prompt #8 Since the majority of the land in the southwestern United States is desert, the light colored Rock Pocket Mouse would have an advantage over the
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dark colored mouse. The dark colored mouse will not camouflage well and will be more visible to predators. However, mutations are not always bad. If something occurred to make the ground dark (like a volcanic eruption) the dark colored mouse would have an advantage over the light colored mouse. Check out a great lesson on this topic: http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/making-fittest-natural-selection-and-adaptation Writing Prompt #9 Cloning is still a controversial topic. In the farming world, the majority of crops that are grown and bought in grocery stores are cloned. Conversely, when it comes to animals ethical issues arise. There are indeed companies that can clone your pets for a large fee, but just because these pets have the same DNA does not mean they will have the same personality or temperament. Most students will recognize that human cloning will bring up a wide range of scientific, legal, and ethical issues. Writing Prompt #10 Person #2 has 5 children- two boys and three girls. Of those kids, one son and two daughters will have magical powers. There are nine grandkids, and one grandson and two granddaughters will have magical powers. Hopefully students will get creative on what that magical power could be.
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