Dragon DNA and other genetics fun: Genetics Web Lab Directory
February 16, 2009
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that the general public has an obsession with CSI television programs, and that stem cell research, the human genome and other genetics applications are hot topics in the media. With all of this exposure, your students will undoubtedly be interested in the media frenzy. Wouldn’t it be nice if they had some factual background to help them understand what they hear? At the Genetics Web Lab Directory, students can build that understanding.
The website contains fourteen interactive modules suitable for middle- and high-school students. The introductory modules introduce students to basic concepts of genetics such as Mendel’s Peas and Punnett squares, whereas some of the advanced modules tackle genetic counseling and the Hardy-Weinberg Equation. When you hover your mouse over each bubble, you will see a brief overview of what the activity entails, the concepts it covers, and the challenge level of the activity — as if you couldn’t tell that perhaps your 7th graders don’t need to tackle the Hardy-Weinberg Equation.
Whether it is introductory or advanced, each module brings you an innovative, interactive activity on each of the various topics. As the title of this post suggests, one module uses dragons to teach about genotype and phenotype. Unfortunately there isn’t one about Harry Potter to go along with the dragons. However, you will certainly find something you can use in your classroom to help your students understand the difference between factual genetics exploration and wishful thinking. –REBECCAH HAINES
Related Stuff:
Darwin Day: Happy 200th birthday, Charles!
Though it’s a bit of a stretch, Hermione Granger was born a witch to two Muggle parents. This leads into a perfect discussion of recessive alleles, though it breaks down under deep investigation of the books. Apparently, Hermione has no known magic using relatives anywhere in her family history. This leaves her magic use either to random mutation, or unknown portions of her family history. Thanks for these resources!
