Contributed by: New York State Alternative Assessment in Science
Project (NYSED)
Description:
Students analyze the genetic characteristics of some hypothetical
seeds. This assessment task is to be used after students have had
instruction in Mendelian genetics.
This task is designed to take students approximately 15-20 minutes
to complete.
Overall Task Content Area:
- Life Science
Specific Knowledge Areas:
- Genetics and Molecular Biology
Performance Expectations:
- formulating conclusions from investigational data
- applying scientific principles to develop explanations and solve
new problems
National Science Education Standards:
12 A SI 1: Abilities necessary to do scientific
inquiry: Grades 9-12
1.4 Formulate and revise scientific explanations and models
using logic and evidence. Student inquiries should culminate in
formulating an explanation or model. Models should be physical,
conceptual, and mathematical. In the process of answering the questions,
the students should engage in discussions and arguments that result
in the revision of their explanations. These discussions should
be based on scientific knowledge, the use of logic, and evidence
from their investigation.
8 C LS 2: Reproduction and heredity: Grades 5-8
2.3 Every organism requires a set of instructions for specifying
its traits. Heredity is the passage of these instructions from one
generation to another.
2.4 Hereditary information is contained in genes, located
in the chromosomes of each cell. Each gene carries a single unit
of information. An inherited trait of an individual can be determined
by one or by many genes, and a single gene can influence more than
one trait. A human cell contains many thousands of different genes.
(Use the "hot" link on the PALS home page to
check the full text of related National Science Education Standards,
if desired.)
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics:
DAP3: Develop and evaluate inferences and
predictions that are based on data :
Grades 9-12 g. understand how sample statistics reflect the
values of population parameters and use sampling distributions as
the basis for informal inference
DAP4: Understand and apply basic concepts
of probability :
Grades 9-12 j. understand the concepts of conditional probability
and independent events
Grades 9-12 k. understand how to compute the probability
of a compound event
PS2: Build new mathematical knowledge through
problem solving:
Grades 9-12
CNX3: Recognize and apply mathematics in
contexts outside of mathematics:
Grades 9-12
General Instructions to the Teacher:
The purpose of this task is for students to use their knowledge
and understanding of Mendelian genetics to analyze the genetic characteristics
of some hypothetical seeds. Students should work alone to read the
initial scenario and answer the four questions which follow.
You may want to remind students that if they use symbols in their
answers (e.g. TT, Tt, tt), they must provide a key explaining how
their symbols are being used. For example, an acceptable key would
look like:
T |
= |
tall allele |
t |
= |
short allele |
TT |
= |
pure tall |
Tt |
= |
heterozygous tall |
Tt |
= |
pure short |
Skills used in this task include (primarily) interpreting data and
predicting, and (secondarily) communicating and classifying.
This task is designed to take most students 15-20 minutes to complete.
Materials for Ajax Seed Company:
At this station students should have:
- Only the individual student answer sheets are required.
Advance Preparation:
None required.
Safety:
-
Be careful.
- Teachers and students should always exercise appropriate safety
precautions and utilize appropriate laboratory safety procedures
and equipment when working on science performance tasks.
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