Mendelian Crosses Lesson Plan for Junior Cert Science

Mendelian Crosses Lesson Plan for Junior Cert Science

Introduction to Mendelian Genetics

Mendelian Genetics: A set of primary principles relating to the transmission of hereditary characteristics from parent organisms to their offspring.

What do you already know about Mendelian genetics?

Understanding Dominant and Recessive Traits

Dominant Trait: A genetic trait expressed in the phenotype even when only one allele is present. Recessive Trait: A genetic trait that is expressed in the phenotype only when two copies of the allele are present.

Performing Monohybrid Crosses

Monohybrid Cross: A genetic cross between parents that differ in one characteristic, with the alleles for that characteristic being heterozygous.

Using Punnett Squares to Predict Genetic Outcomes

Punnett Square: A diagram used to predict the genotypes of a particular cross or breeding experiment.

Differentiating Between Homozygous and Heterozygous

Homozygous: Having two identical alleles for a particular gene. Heterozygous: Having two different alleles for a particular gene.

Defining Genotype and Phenotype

Genotype: The genetic constitution of an organism in terms of its alleles. Phenotype: The observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism, as determined by both genetic makeup and environmental influences.

Key Definitions

Mendelian Genetics, Dominant Trait, Recessive Trait, Monohybrid Cross, Punnett Square, Homozygous, Heterozygous, Genotype, Phenotype

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.