Introduction to Human Genetics Telecollaborative Project

DNA

This is a plan to participate in the Human Genetics: Is the dominant trait most prevalent? project. This project is hosted by Stevens Institute of Technology, Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education (CIESE).

This project allows students to collect data about their own class's phenotypes and post it to the web. Students can compare their class's data to other classes from around the U.S. and the world. Students will determine which traits are dominant and if the dominant trait is in fact the one that occurs most often. Science data collection skills include writing a hypothesis, completing a survey, and forming a conclusion based on the data collected by students around the world. The project contains a discussion area for classes to post infomation about themselves as well as their results and conclusions. The project is recommended for students in grades 6-12.

This lesson plan is written for 7th grade students studying genetics as part of a life science curriculum. In order to begin, teachers must register for the project at CIESE Registration.

Daily Activities:

Directions

  1. Read the Curriculum Standards for the unit.
  2. Check the Technical Requirements and Contingency Plans to insure that all technology needs can be met.
  3. Read Further Collaborative Inquiry and consider forming a partnership with another teacher's classes from another part of the country or world.
  4. Images used under Creative Commons from: Flickr DNA rendering
  5. Follow the links to the lessons for each day. Students will follow the directions on each page.

Questions? Email me: Janet Johnston

Updated: February 8, 2011