More Information: Foundations of Genetics
A 6-week or longer investigation targeting grades 9-12.
Designed as a whole-class experiment, students work in teams to grow a selected strain of Brassica rapa from seed to seed and examine plant traits as they develop over the course of a life cycle. Plants are grown in populations large enough so the variation of traits within a population can be documented and analyzed.
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Performance Expectations
The performance expectations for the Pollen module are:
- 3-LS1-1
- 3-LS2-1
- 3-LS3-1
- 3-LS3-2
- 3-LS4-2
- MS-LS3-1
- MS-LS3-2
- HS-LS3-1
- HS-LS4-3
Essential Inquiry Questions:
- What makes one individual different from another in a population?
- How does environment influence variation?
- How is variation inherited?
This module begins from a guided approach with an F2 seed stock selected to allow students investigate discrete and quantitative traits within a population. Review the Table of Contents and Overview and Planning prior to planning.