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This
activity is
appropriate for children ages 12 and up. Some previous study of
cells, chromosomes and genes is preferable.
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In Living LEGO® Fish, students
work
through
the steps of cell division, specifically meiosis, in "LEGO® fish"
cells
to
gain a better understanding of the process of gamete cell division and
the
ways that genes can be expressed. After running through the
steps
of meiosis, students predict the phenotype and genotype of possible
offspring
for two parents with a known genotype. |
The LEGO® fish is introduced as a model
to
demonstrate how genes can be expressed in a "living" creature.
Our fish has only three chromosome pairs, rather than a human's
23 pairs, to facilitate an easier understanding of the relationship
between gene and trait. In designing their own LEGO® fish, students
discover how dominant and recessive genes as seen in the genotype
affect what is
expressed in the phenotype. They also learn how several
generations
of fish with different phenotypes can result from parental cells.
Students complete the activity by
looking at how environmental factors interact with and affect the gene
pool
of a given population.
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