Foundational Genetics Skill Lesson for Reading Pedigrees.
This lesson introduces students to the basic structure and purpose of pedigree charts by first grounding them in essential genetics vocabulary. Students review and apply terms such as gene vs. allele, genotype vs. phenotype, and homozygous vs. heterozygous. A brief self-check allows students to identify areas where they need reinforcement, with optional linked review available for targeted practice.
Students are then introduced to the concept of a carrier and examine why carriers must be heterozygous for recessive traits. This prepares them to interpret information presented in pedigree charts accurately.
The lesson moves into explicit instruction on pedigree chart symbols and how relationships are represented. Students practice identifying individuals, family connections, and affected versus unaffected members within a pedigree before moving on to more complex interpretation tasks.
To apply these skills in context, students analyze a historical pedigree connected to Charles II of Spain. Using this example, they interpret relationships and trait patterns to explain how inheritance contributed to the end of his lineage. This provides a real-world case for applying genetics vocabulary and pedigree-reading skills.
This lesson is designed to function as a foundational pedigree-reading lesson prior to inheritance pattern analysis. It builds the representational literacy students need before tackling dominant, recessive, or sex-linked trait determination.
To preview this lesson, click here.
Grade & Course Recommendation:
Middle School:Grade 8 Advanced Life Science, simple inheritance and family traits.
High School:Grades 9–11 Biology, genetics and heredity interpretation.
Cross-Curricular Connections:
Math Integration: Interpreting patterns, probabilities, and ratios in family trees.
ELA Integration: Translating data into narrative explanations of inheritance.
Health Science Integration: Discussing genetic counseling and medical pedigree analysis.
Daily slide + literacy - based exit ticket included with purchase
HS-LS3-1: Ask questions to clarify relationships about the role of DNA and chromosomes in coding the instructions for characteristic traits passed from parents to offspring.
Connection: Students use pedigree charts to trace inherited traits and connect phenotypes to genotypes.
HS-LS3-3: Apply concepts of statistics and probability to explain the variation and distribution of expressed traits in a population.
Connection: Students interpret inheritance patterns (dominant, recessive, and sex-linked traits) using real-world examples of pedigree data.
HS-LS4-2: Construct an explanation based on evidence that the process of evolution primarily results from genetic variation among individuals due to mutation and sexual reproduction.
Connection: The historical inbreeding case provides evidence of reduced genetic diversity and its biological consequences.
Science & Engineering Practices:
Analyzing and interpreting data
Constructing explanations
Engaging in argument from evidence
Using models (pedigree charts)
Crosscutting Concepts:
Patterns
Cause and effect
Systems and system models
MS-LS3-2: Develop and use a model to describe why asexual reproduction results in identical genetic information, while sexual reproduction results in variation.
Connection: Students explore how reproduction between relatives reduces genetic variation.
MS-LS3-1: Develop and use a model to describe why structural changes to genes (mutations) may result in harmful, beneficial, or neutral effects.
Connection: The historical example demonstrates harmful recessive traits expressed through inbreeding.
Grades 9–10 / 7–8:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.9-10.2 / RST.6-8.2: Determine central ideas or conclusions of a scientific text and summarize the connections between genetics and historical context.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.9-10.7 / RST.6-8.7: Integrate quantitative or technical information (pedigree charts) with textual evidence.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.9-10.1 / WHST.6-8.1: Write arguments or explanations supported by evidence from visual and textual sources (exit ticket explanation).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.9-10.9 / WHST.6-8.9: Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis and conclusions about inherited traits.
Foundational Genetics Skill Lesson for Reading Pedigrees.
This lesson introduces students to the basic structure and purpose of pedigree charts by first grounding them in essential genetics vocabulary. Students review and apply terms such as gene vs. allele, genotype vs. phenotype, and homozygous vs. heterozygous. A brief self-check allows students to identify areas where they need reinforcement, with optional linked review available for targeted practice.
Students are then introduced to the concept of a carrier and examine why carriers must be heterozygous for recessive traits. This prepares them to interpret information presented in pedigree charts accurately.
The lesson moves into explicit instruction on pedigree chart symbols and how relationships are represented. Students practice identifying individuals, family connections, and affected versus unaffected members within a pedigree before moving on to more complex interpretation tasks.
To apply these skills in context, students analyze a historical pedigree connected to Charles II of Spain. Using this example, they interpret relationships and trait patterns to explain how inheritance contributed to the end of his lineage. This provides a real-world case for applying genetics vocabulary and pedigree-reading skills.
This lesson is designed to function as a foundational pedigree-reading lesson prior to inheritance pattern analysis. It builds the representational literacy students need before tackling dominant, recessive, or sex-linked trait determination.
To preview this lesson, click here.
Grade & Course Recommendation:
Middle School:Grade 8 Advanced Life Science, simple inheritance and family traits.
High School:Grades 9–11 Biology, genetics and heredity interpretation.
Cross-Curricular Connections:
Math Integration: Interpreting patterns, probabilities, and ratios in family trees.
ELA Integration: Translating data into narrative explanations of inheritance.
Health Science Integration: Discussing genetic counseling and medical pedigree analysis.
Daily slide + literacy - based exit ticket included with purchase
HS-LS3-1: Ask questions to clarify relationships about the role of DNA and chromosomes in coding the instructions for characteristic traits passed from parents to offspring.
Connection: Students use pedigree charts to trace inherited traits and connect phenotypes to genotypes.
HS-LS3-3: Apply concepts of statistics and probability to explain the variation and distribution of expressed traits in a population.
Connection: Students interpret inheritance patterns (dominant, recessive, and sex-linked traits) using real-world examples of pedigree data.
HS-LS4-2: Construct an explanation based on evidence that the process of evolution primarily results from genetic variation among individuals due to mutation and sexual reproduction.
Connection: The historical inbreeding case provides evidence of reduced genetic diversity and its biological consequences.
Science & Engineering Practices:
Analyzing and interpreting data
Constructing explanations
Engaging in argument from evidence
Using models (pedigree charts)
Crosscutting Concepts:
Patterns
Cause and effect
Systems and system models
MS-LS3-2: Develop and use a model to describe why asexual reproduction results in identical genetic information, while sexual reproduction results in variation.
Connection: Students explore how reproduction between relatives reduces genetic variation.
MS-LS3-1: Develop and use a model to describe why structural changes to genes (mutations) may result in harmful, beneficial, or neutral effects.
Connection: The historical example demonstrates harmful recessive traits expressed through inbreeding.
Grades 9–10 / 7–8:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.9-10.2 / RST.6-8.2: Determine central ideas or conclusions of a scientific text and summarize the connections between genetics and historical context.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.9-10.7 / RST.6-8.7: Integrate quantitative or technical information (pedigree charts) with textual evidence.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.9-10.1 / WHST.6-8.1: Write arguments or explanations supported by evidence from visual and textual sources (exit ticket explanation).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.9-10.9 / WHST.6-8.9: Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis and conclusions about inherited traits.
