GENETICS

INTRODUCTION

The Genetics High School Supplemental SEEd standards explore the structures, functions, patterns, and processes that cause and effect heredity and genetic expression in living things. Students develop and use models to understand the structure of DNA and how mutations occur. Students plan and carry out investigations to identify genetic patterns in inherited traits and characteristics. Students obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about bioengineering and its impact on humanity.  

Strand GENE.1: STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF MOLECULAR GENETICS

The structure of DNA enables the process of both protein synthesis and inheritance. Genes located on chromosomes encode instructions for proteins that result in the characteristics of organisms. Mitosis and meiosis affect the transmission of alleles from one generation to the next. There are many causes of mutations which have a variety of effects.  

• Standard GENE.1.1     Develop and use a model illustrating how the structure of DNA enables the process of both protein synthesis and inheritance.  

• Standard GENE.1.2     Analyze and interpret data to determine how changes to genes may cause an organism’s characteristics to vary. Emphasize that genes located on chromosomes encode instructions for proteins that can result in the characteristic(s) of organisms.   

• Standard GENE.1.3     Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the patterns in the processes of cell divisions and how they affect the transmission of alleles from one generation to the next. Emphasize the similarities and differences in the processes of both mitosis and meiosis.   

• Standard GENE.1.4     Ask questions to construct an explanation about the causes and effects of mutations on an organisms’ traits. 

Strand GENE.2: PATTERNS OF CHROMOSOMAL GENETICS

Mendelian genetics account for the predictability and variability of genetic patterns in all organisms. Sex-linked inheritance leads to changes in the probability that a phenotype will be expressed based on sex. Multifactorial traits are attributable to both the environment and genes. Random genetic variations within a population and natural selection pressures both impact evolutionary change of that population.  

• Standard GENE.2.1     Plan and carry out an investigation to analyze the predictability and variability of genetic patterns in diploid organisms as described by mendelian genetics.

• Standard GENE.2.2     Use mathematics and computational thinking to explain how that sex-linked inheritance leads to changes in the probability that a phenotype will be expressed based in certain sexes. Emphasize the genes and traits that can be inherited on sex chromosomes.  

• Standard GENE.2.3     Engage in argument from evidence about how multifactorial traits are a result of interactions between external (environmental) systems and internal systems of the organism.   

• Standard GENE.2.4     Analyze and interpret data to investigate how the scale, proportion, and quantity of random occurrences affect the genetic makeup of a population. Emphasize that random genetic variation within a population and natural selection pressures both impact evolutionary change. 

Strand GENE.3: CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF BIOENGINEERING

Technology has been applied in numerous fields including agriculture, medicine, and industry. The completion of the Human Genome project has led to advances in the area of genomics. Biotechnology has been used to identify and modify genes which may be used for a variety of valid outcomes, but may also raise ethical issues concerning research and application that have had an effect on humankind.  

• Standard GENE.3.1     Engage in argument from evidence about how the structure and function of biotechnology is used to modify genes in a way that can affect humankind including application potential ethical concerns. Emphasize technologies’ affect on agriculture, medicine, and industry. Examples of technology could include GMOs, cloning, diagnosing and treating genetic disorders, and CRISPR.  

• Standard GENE.3.2     Ask questions to obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the human genome project and its effects in the area of genomics.   

• Standard GENE.3.3     Analyze and interpret data to evaluate different designed solutions where biotechnology uses matter and energy to identify and/or modify the structure and function of genes in order to solve a problem. Define the problem, identify criteria and constraints, analyze available data on proposed solutions, consider potential ethical concerns, and determine an optimal solution.