Investigate the science behind heredity, from the structure of DNA to the genes and alleles that shape traits across generations.
What makes you look like you? Why do siblings share some traits but not others? And how can a tiny molecule of DNA hold the instructions for building a living thing?
Get hands-on by extracting visible DNA from fruit, using Punnett squares to predict inherited traits, and modeling how genes are passed from one generation to the next. Then, put your understanding to work by designing a creature with its own combination of traits and tracing those traits across generations. Finally, explore how genetic technology is changing the real world, from CRISPR and cloning to ancestry testing, and debate the ethical questions that come with our growing ability to change DNA itself.
What you'll do
See DNA for Yourself
Extract visible DNA from strawberries or other fruit using everyday materials, then investigate the structure and function of the molecule that carries genetic information.
Build a New Species
Model genes and alleles as you combine traits across generations to design an original creature. Trace how your creature’s characteristics change as its genetic code changes.
Predict the Next Generation
Use class trait surveys, probability, and Punnett squares to explore how traits are inherited. Predict what offspring might look like and see how your predictions compare with the results.
Explore Genetics in the Real World
Investigate how CRISPR, cloning, and ancestry testing are changing what we can do with genetic information. Debate the ethical questions surrounding gene editing and the future of genetic technology.
