Genetic Lesson Plan Ideas
Genetics Education
Center, University of Kansas
Genetic Programs
/ Centers / Lesson Plans
- Access
Excellence lesson plans, Genentech, Inc.
- Aging
and Genetics, Challenge of Cancer,
Discovery Series Student/Teacher
guides, BioRAP® (Biological Research for Animals and People), University
of Connecticut, Science Education Partnership Award, National Center for Research
Resources, National Institutes of Health
- Basic
Principles of Genetics: An Introduction to Mendelian Genetics,
DO'Neil, Palomar College San Marcos, California
- Basic
Genetics In First and Second Grade, K Ayr, Yale-New
Haven Teachers Institute
- Blood
typing/ blood types
- Blazing
a Genetic Trail - online book, Howard Hughes Medical
Institutes. Includes information on Basic Genetics,
the Human Genome
Project, Glossary,
more
- Animation
Library (PCR, Southern blot, sequencing, polymorphisms), Cold
Spring Harbor Lab DNA Learning Center
- Biology
320, BWalsh, University of Arizona
- Bioethics
Internet Project ethical challenges for students
- Biotech
Adventures, Oklahoma State University, genetics, cells,
mitosis, meiosis, chromosomes, karyotypes, DNA structure, RNA, more
- Cancer and Genes,
BioRAP® (Biological Research for Animals and People)
- Cell phases observation,
activities and labs, Ken-a-Vision Microscopes
- Children
Resemble Their Parents,
DNA Learning Center New
- Chromosomal
Basis of Inheritance and Genes,
Ohio State Univ.
- CAB
International, agricultural and biological sciences cloning
news, AgBiotechNet, Wallingford, Oxon, UK
- Case
Studies: Marfan Syndrome,
- A
Right to Her Genes (Breast Cancer), S Gal, State University
of New York at Binghamton, and JW Klein, Middlesex Community College,
teaching
notes
- Genetic
Testing and Breast Cancer: Is a Little Knowledge a
Dangerous Thing? CR Zales, Moravian
College, PA Cases & role play: Tay-Sachs,
Breast
Cancer, Breast
Cancer, Breast
Cancer, Huntington
Disease. teaching
notes
- Hemophilia:
"The Royal Disease", Y Aronova-Tiuntseva
and CF Herreid, State University of New York
- Death
of Baby Pierre: Genetic Mystery (tyrosinemia), C Freeman
Herreid, State University of New York
- Sickle
Cell Anemia: The Inquiry Begins, D Stamper, King's
College , teaching
notes
- Gender:
In the Genes or in the Jeans? (Sexual Differentiation),
"How are Males and Females Different?", WJ Hoese, California
State Univ Fullerton, J Gibber, Columbia Univ, and B Wood, Univ Maine
Presque Isle, teaching
notes
- Can
a Genetic Disease Be Cured? A Mother's Dilemma (muscular
dystrophy), MS Hudecki, State University of New York, teaching
notes
- Sometimes
it is All in the Genes (cystic fibrosis), (.pdf)
A Galbraith & D Howard, University of WisconsinLa Crosse,
teaching
notes
- Genetics
Meets the Real World (Marfan Syndrome)
- Cells
Alive! cells, images, Quicktime movies
- Create
a DNA Fingerprint, RGroleau, NOVA
- Designer
Genes, ThinkQuest, quizzes, history,
Punnett squares, recombinant DNA, retroviruses, electrophoresis, homework
help, last updated 1998
- DNA
Files, radio explorations of the science and social issues
of the genetics revolution, funded by Department of Energy, Human Resources
Dept., and the National Science Foundation
- DNA
Introduction, Fun Science Stuff, Eureka Science, Corp.
- DNA
Sequencing by Restriction Project, Advanced Biology
Class, Tracy High School, CA
- Decisions,
Access Excellence
- DNA
-- Finding a Sequence in the Genetic Haystack, The Tech Museum
of Innovation, bases in one cell would fill 1,000 phone books with
A's, T's, G's and C's. Locate small sections of DNA, play "Search
for the Sequence" online and search through billions of bases
- DNA
-- You are the Patient, The Tech Museum of Innovation, Huntington
disease testing simulation
- DNA
-- You are the Doctor, Tech Museum of Innovation, colon cancer
genetic testing simulation
- Decisions,
Decisions! A Genetics Role-playing Activity, S Nelson, access excellence
- Design
Pedigree for Color Blindness, imaginary family
- DNA
Replication Zippers, Colored
Yarn Genes, DNA
Beads, DNA
Models, Creative
Writing Assessment Tool for DNA Sequencing, Mitosis/Meiosis
Flip Books, Marshmallow Meiosis, Clothesline
Translation, Genetics Reader, Paper
Plasmid Lab (from Keystone Science), Encyclopedia
Analogy Topic (Difference Between a Chromosome and a Gene),
Cat
Gag Tag Act (an Analogy), Ethical
Decision Making Framework, DNA
Sequence Films, Rubber Tubing Model of Supercoiled DNA,
PTC
Paper (Inheritance of Genetic Traits), Collected lesson ideas,
University of Washington
- DNA
Testing: An Introduction For Non-Scientists, D.E.Riley,
University of Washington, 1998
- DNA
Workshop Activity, Science Odyssey, WGBH, PBS Online,
1998
- Food
for Thought:
DNA Cookie Analogy, Center for Biology Education, University of Wisconsin
- Madison, or Chips
Off the Old Block?
- Exploratorium
genetics exhibit - ethics cases, Huntington
disease scenario and Cystic fibrosis
scenario
- Frank
Potter's Science Gems - Life Science I - Molecular
Genetics curricula links
- Gene
Mapping Workshop,
Biology 510 (Developmental Genetics), Lander University, Greenwood Genetic
Center New
- Gene
Puzzles,
Science NetLinks, AAAS New
- Gene
School, Thinkquest
- Generations,
BSCS, Kendall Hunt, 2000. Use jelly beans to show inheritance of traits over
generations. Colored
M&M's can be ordered to use also
- Genetic
Counseling Game, Linda Casebolt, 1994 Woodrow Wilson
Biology Institute
- Genetic and Disease
Lesson Plans: Activities, Teachers' Guides, Human Genome,
McRel
- Genetic
Education for Native Americans
, Native American Cancer
Research
- Genetic
Education Materials, Greenwood Genetic Center
- Genetic
Booklets and Brochures Online
- Genetics
and DNA, Skowronski's Science connection, biology teacher at
Berkley High School
- Genetic Science Learning Center,
University of Utah, Eccles Institute of Human Genetics: How
to extract DNA from anything living, What
can our chromosomes tell us? (old version or New
version), Match
up Chromosome Pairs, Finding
a gene on the chromosome map, How
mutations occur, How
mutation causes Genetic Disorders, Mutate
a DNA Sentence!, also Basic
Genetics, Genetic
Disorders, What
are Genetic Disorders, Breast
Cancer Genes: BRCA1 and BRCA2, Classroom
Activities Index
- Genetics
super-sleuth, University of Queensland, Australia
- Genetic traits: cooperative
project, Milwaukee Telecommunications Project
- Genetic
Activities, Stevens Institute of Technology, Center
for Improved Engineering and Science Education
- Genomics
and Its Impact on Medicine and Society: A 2001 Primer,
(.pdf) Department of Energy (DOE), Slides
(powerpoint)
- Human
Population Genotypes Simulator, (requires java), vary alleles
studied, population numbers, generations, and survival rates, view results
as graph form or allele frequency histogram
- Human
Genetics: A Worldwide Search for the Dominant Trait
- Do You Have It?, Stevens Institute of Technology, Center for Improved Engineering
and Science Education (CIESE), September 6 - December 6, 2002
New
- Human
Genome Project Internet Exercise, research genetic disorders
online, rate value of accumulated web sites, ratings are based on assuming
the role of a person affected by a genetic disorders
- Hispanic
Educational Genome Project, includes Spanish version, Department
Biology and Microbiology, California State University, Los Angeles, CA
, 1998
- Heredity
/ Genetics Lesson Plans, EXPLORER science curriculum
K-12, Univ. Kansas
- How
Do We Inherit Our Biological Characteristics? Thornridge
High School Biology Telegenetics Project (Cystic fibrosis, Marfan syndrome,
Huntington disease, Breast cancer, Fragile-X syndrome, Sickle cell anemia,
Hemophilia, etc.)
- How
to Extract DNA from Anything Living,
Genetic Science Learning Center at the Eccles Institute of Human Genetics,
University of Utah
- Human
DNA Fingerprinting Lab Protocol (Detection of Alu by PCR),
1994 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, DNA Learning Center
- Instruction
Manual for All Life - visually-appealing "picture
book" of genetic principles, step-by-step process of genetics, starting
with examination of the human hand, zooming in to cell nucleus and beyond.
Easy to navigate for young users (K-6)
- I've
Got a Secret, JHResier, The Tech Museum of Innovation, genetic
/ DNA fingerprinting
- Interactive
Genetics, UCLA
- International
Data Report, Genome Database. Genetic
diseases located by chromosome location or alphabetical listing of genes.
Updated frequently
- Introduction
to Genetics, two games (matching, flash card, jeopardy style)
with feedback for introduction, practice, quiz
- Karyotyping
Activity,
human chromosome digital images, students arrange chromosomes into karyotypes,
interpret findings, The Biology Project, University of Arizona,
June 1998 (also in Spanish)
- Making
A Face: Converting Genotypes, into Phenotypes by Simulating Gametogenesis,
Fertilization and Embryogenesis, TAtkins, JRoderick
-
Meiosis animations,
Modern Genetics

- Mendelian
Genetics 7.01, Biology
Hypertextbook, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT),
includes diagrams, problems. Mendelian genetics, crosses, sex-linkage,
meiosis, linkage, mapping, genetic research
- Mendel's
principles, powerpoint of Mendel's principles,
Horton High School, Nova Scotia
- Microscopes,
Cells, DNA and You, University of Washington / National
Science Foundation, includes: What
do you know about DNA?, Trait
Tree, Traits and Characteristics, Who am I Game, What
makes a Human, DNA Gel Electrophoresis: what are we doing with DNA, and
how do we analyze DNA?, DNA and Information, and DNA
Summary
- Mitosis:
Chromosome Replication & Division, and Teacher Guide, adaptable
for elementary classes
- Mitosis
, Science NetLinks,
AAAS New
-
Modern
Genetics for All Students, Washington University Science
Outreach
- Mystery
Bull, Flushing Community Schools, 1998
- New
Scientist Magazine overview of cloning
- Pediatric
genetic cases for discussion, Utah Museum of Natural
History - other
genetic cases
- Pedigree
Intro and Practice, phenotypes and pedigree symbols, sample
pedigree, pedigree problem solving, tutorial
- Question
of Genes, PBS program on genetic testing, teacher guide available,
9/16/97
- Reebops,
developed by Patti Soderberg, Center for Biology Education, University of
Wisconsin - Madison,
download .pdf
- Rebops,
Access Excellence; school
projects, Science Man
- ReeBops,
small (fictional) organisms that live in discarded soda cans, lesson plan
at several sites: Hazlet
Middle School, TelGenetics
(other genetics),
Erie City School
District (marshmallows), Marshmallow
Meiosis, iloveteaching.com
- Science
Explained: The Cloning of Dolly technology, cloning Dolly the
sheep
Spooling DNA - several resources
- Teaching
Activities, Dudley Wright Center Teacher/Scholar Recipients, Howard Hughes
Medical Institute
- Teaching
About Inherited Human Disorders Through Case Studies,
J Boroditsky, H DeYoung & J Jones,
1994, Woodrow Wilson Biology Institute
-
Translocation chromosome animation, Modern Genetics

- Undergraduate
genetics courses, North Carolina State University
- Understanding:
The Power of Genes, Discovery Channel, March-June 1999,
Science
of Cloning Classroom Activities, School Store
- Understanding
Gene Testing, details behind the technical procedures involved
in gene testing
- Virtual
Fly Lab principles of genetic inheritance, interactive experiments
using virtual fruit flies
- Your
Genes, Your Health, Dolan DNA Learning Center
New
- Woodrow Wilson Biology Institute, Neurobiology
Lesson plans, includes Populations
to Molecules: Heredity at All Levels (1994), and other
teacher programs and lesson plans
- What
Does "Genetic" Mean, Athro Limited, includes Human
Eye Color explanation, interactive Punnett
Squares
- Welcome
to Morgan: A Genetics Tutorial principles of genetics for high
school biology
Forensic
DNA (fingerprinting, solving
crimes, law, courtroom lesson plans and references)
Genetic
Museum Exhibits
Curriculum development
resources:
- Biology
Animation Site, DNA Learning Center, Cold Springs Harbor
[Polymerase Chain Reaction, Southern blotting, Cycle Sequencing, DNA detective,
Polymorphisms,Transposition]
- Cloning
of Dolly, Science Explained
- Cytogenetics
and other Chromosome related sites
- Cytogenetics
Gallery, Pathology Department, University of Washington,
Seattle - chromosomes, karyotypes, definitions
- Central
Dogma of Molecular Genetics / the Genetic Code,
MIT Hypertextbook (DNA replication, code, mutations)
- DNA Learning Center,
Cold Spring Harbor, "Biology Animation" PCR / Southern Blotting
Animation [needs shockwave]
- DNA's
Role in Tales from the Crypt,
Czar of Russia and family
-
Genetic
Education
Materials
(GEM)
Database,
search, public health genetics policies, clinical genetics educational
materials

- Genetic
Code, SDBlack, Univ. Texas Health Center, Tyler, table
of nucleic acid triplet and corresponding amino acid
- Genes
by Chromosome, hosted by Johns Hopkins University School
of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland USA
- Guidelines
for Reporting and Writing About People with Disabilities,
University of Kansas, national associations
, theArc
- Human
Genetic Chromosome Idiograms, University of Washington
- Introduction
to G6PD Deficiency
- Kid Guide to Switches
(explanation of inheritance "switched genes")
- Lessons for teaching
biology to prospective elementary school teachers
, San Diego State
University (SDSU) College of Sciences- Molecular
Biology Teacher Resources, AT&T ENRICH (AT&T,
Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools, Chicago Public Schools, and the Illinois
State Board of Education)
- Pedigree
Studies, Human
Genetic Traits (Variation),and Chromosome
Study-Karyotyping, Mr. Biology
- Primer
on Molecular Genetics, Department of Energy (DOE)
- Sheep
Cloning, Roslin Institute, Scotland
- Science
Standards 5:
genetics standards, K-12, links to state and national standards, Mid-continent
Regional Educational Laboratory (McREL), science resources by topic (from
Project 2061: Benchmarks for Science Literacy, p.106)
- Taryn's Club Med
- kids with genetic conditions, web pages for kids
- TeacherLINK,
University of
Utah, numerous resources, lesson plan development ideas
- Why
Files: background
on Science News, some genetic
- ZeroBio
Quiz, Central Secondary School, Ontario, Canada
Barriers to Teaching about Genetics
/ Science / Molecular genetics (e.g., student misconceptions,
lack of resources, interest & motivation of students, lack of student prior
knowledge, intuitive ideas held by students, limited time and laboratory space)
- Misconceptions
as Barriers to Understanding Science, Science Teaching
Reconsidered, National Academy Press
- Time,
Money, Mentors: Overcoming Barriers to Undergraduate Research,
KBrown, (.pdf),
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
- The
Role of Scientists in the Professional Development of Science Teachers,
National Academy Press
- Teaching
about Prenatal Development in Biology, EO Orville, Yale-New
Haven Teachers Institute
-
Challenging the Traditional Role of Teaching, Howard
Hughes Medical Institute
- Public
Health Genetics: Implications of the New Genetics for Primary
care, School of Health and Related Research, U.K.
Search for genetic
education resources, schoolzone.com, United Kingdom
Biology-Related
Links, many genetic ideas, Jo Wu, Fullerton College
Revised
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Genetics Education Center
University of Kansas Medical Center © 1995-2012
Debra Collins, M.S. CGC, Genetic Counselor, dcollins@kumc.edu
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