Reebops: a “model” organism for learning

genetics

After this lesson, you will be able to say… I Can: explain that sexual

reproduction produces offspring that inherit half their DNA from each parent.

I Can: explain how genes are carried from parents to their offspring on chromosomes

Reebops are imaginary animals made from marshmallows and other easily found materials

You and your partner will be making a baby Reebop

What are Reebops?

How to construct your baby Reebop?

1. You will be given 7 sets of chromosomes in envelopes.

2. Turn the chromosomes face down on the desks so no letters are showing.

3. Sort them so that they are matched by length.

Chromosome Pairs The red pair of strips are

the mother’s chromosomes.

The blue pair of strips are the father’s chromosomes.

Each individual strip is an allele.

4. The longest 4 strips: take 1 strip from the mother and 1 strip from the father.

5. Make a new pile for your Reebop baby.

6. Repeat for the rest of the strips.

The baby Reebop’s alleles

Chromosomes in Humans

Because humans reproduce through sexual reproduction, they inherit half or 50% of their DNA from each parent.

SO, they inherit 23 chromosomes from each parent.

Why do chromosomes come in pairs????

What does a human baby look like?

Because chromosomes carry genes, when the two sex cells meet and the chromosomes form pairs--the baby ends up

with 2 alleles for each trait.

MOM’S

DAD’S

7. Return the remaining alleles to the envelopes.

8. Turn over your chromosomes to see what your baby will look like.

Each Reebop baby will have 14 chromosomes: 7 blue and 7 red.

Congratulations!! It’s a… Reebop

Reebop Worksheet9. Fill out the genotype and phenotype for

your baby.10. Highlight each of your baby’s 7 traits in the

“Key to Reebop Traits.”11. Send 1 member of your group to the back

with the worksheet, to gather the materials you’ll need for your baby’s traits.

12. BUILD YOUR BABY REEBOP!13. Make revisions to your initial model in

________(color) only.