Pick the Risk: The Polygenic Pedigree Challenge
Source Institutions
-
University of Utah
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In this activity, learners are challenged to track and record the passage of colored pom poms (representing genes) through generations of a family using a pedigree. Learners discover that common chronic diseases (such as heart disease) run in families and are caused by the combined action of multiple genes.
- 10 to 30 minutes
- 30 to 45 minutes
- $5 - $10 per group of students
- Ages 11 - 18
- Activity, Lesson/Lesson Plan, Simulation
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- Copies of student pages
- Colored pencils or crayons
- 2 - 3 disposable cups
- Colored pom poms (5 different colors: at least 10 red, 2 yellow, 1 each of orange, green, blue)
Subjects
- Life Sciences
- Heredity and Genetics
- Patterns of Heredity
- Human Genetics
- DNA Structure and Function
- Human Body
- Health and Nutrition
- Medicine
- Heredity and Genetics
- Mathematics
- Data Analysis and Probability
- Data Analysis
- Data Collection
- Data Representation
- Probability
- Data Analysis and Probability
- The Nature of Science
- The Scientific Process
- Conducting Investigations
- Gathering Data
- Formulating Explanations
- Communicating Results
- The Scientific Process
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- see color
- read
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves teamwork and communication skills
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
Components that are part of this resource:
Includes alignment to state and/or national standards
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
- Bouwhuis, Andee; Call, Ron; Mitchell, April; Nicholson, Brendon
Source Collection:
- Teach.Genetics
Rights:
- All Rights Reserved, University of Utah, ©2006
Funding Source:
- Utah Department of Health Chronic Disease Genomics Program from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U58/CCU822802
