7 th Grade Life Science Name: Miss Thomas & Mrs. Wilkinson Partner: Lab: Superhero Genetics Period: Due Date: The editors at Marvel Comics are tired of the same old characters. They re all out of ideas and are on a nationwide search for the next generation of great Marvel heroes. Your job is to persuade the Marvel Comics editors that your Superchild should be one of the next generation Marvel heroes. In order for the editors to consider your proposal, you must prove that your Superchild is genetically related to two 2 Marvel Superhero characters and explain the source of your Superchild s special powers. Your assignment: Task 1: Create a family poster with pictures of the Superparents and the Grown-Up Superchild Task 2: Write a persuasive essay explaining why your Superchild should be one of the next generation Marvel Superheroes. Include the Super traits he/she inherited from their parents. Purpose: What genes does it take to be one of the next generation Marvel Characters? If Superheroes had children, what would those Superchildren look like, and what kind of Superpowers would they have? Materials: 1. Internet to research traits of your chosen superheroes Google Search Marvel Superhero Characters 2. Table A with your Superhero s genotypes and phenotypes 3. Table B with the cross between your Superhero and your partner s Superhero 4. A coin to flip to determine the genotypes of your Superheroes and their Superchild www.flipcoin.com
Procedure: Part A: Superhero parents genotypes and phenotypes 1. You will work with another partner. You will choose one male superhero and one female Superhero and determine their traits. 2. In Table A, circle your superhero s genotypes based on their phenotypes. Note: All super traits are dominant. If your Superhero does not have a specific trait, he/she is considered normal and should have recessive trait. For any dominant trait: The genotype could either be homozygous dominant (i.e. AA) or heterozygous (i.e. Aa). Flip one coin to decide the second allele for the genotype. Head represents dominant allele and tail represents recessive allele. Possible results are: Head = homozygous dominant Tail = heterozygous dominant For any recessive trait: The genotype is always homozygous recessive (i.e. aa). 3. Once you determine the genotypes, describe your Superhero s phenotypes. Part B: Superchild s genotypes and phenotypes 1. Using yours and your partner s superhero genotypes from Table A, complete the Punnett Squares for each of the 15 traits. 2. If the results for a trait are 100% Homozygous Dominant, 100% Heterozygous Dominant, or 100% Homozygous Recessive, then the Superchild will have that genotype for that trait. 3. If the results are not 100%, then you need to flip a coin to determine if the Superchild will have the dominant or recessive trait. Head = dominant (flip coin again to see what the second allele will be) Tail = recessive 4. Determining the gender of your Superchild: Each of partner will flip a coin at the same time to determine your Superchild s gender. Possible results are: Head-Head = homozygous dominant (Girls - XX) Head-Tail = heterozygous (Boy XY) Tail-Tail = homozygous dominant (Girls - XX) 5. Circle the chosen genotypes for your Superchild in Table B. Then describe the Superchild s phenotypes.
TASK 1 Poster 1. Create a poster showing the images of the Superhero parents and their grown-up Superchild. Also include Table A for both parents and Table B for the child. 2. The Superhero parents images can be self-created or computer-printed. The Superchild must be self-created. You are more than welcome to create a background for your Superheroes or show them in action. However, the superheroes must be the largest and also the main focus of the poster. 3. The images should be in color, accurate in its depiction of expressed traits, and should reflect your best effort. TASK 2 Persuasive Essay The purpose of your written essay is to: prove that your Superchild meets the criteria the Marvel editors are looking for persuade the Marvel editors that your character is a needed addition to the Marvel Universe by explaining the combination of traits inherited from the Superparents 1. Attached to your essay, include the punnett squares for the 15 traits as evidence that the Superchild is genetically related to the Superparents, and include the analysis and conclusion questions. 2. Your essay should be professional and well organized, but should also catch the editors attention. You want them to choose to pick up your Superchild!
Data: Table A: Your superhero s genotypes and phenotypes Name of your superhero: Trait Genotype (Circle ONLY One) Letter Super Normal (dominant) (recessive) F Ability to Fly FF Ff ff S Super Strength SS Ss ss H Super Speed HH Hh hh R X-Ray Vision RR Rr rr B Breathe BB Bb bb Underwater P Psychic Power PP Pp pp T Super TT Tt tt Stretching I Invisibility II Ii ii L. Laser Blast LL Ll ll Vision C Communicate CC Cc cc with animals M Martial Arts MM M mm Master m W Wind / Storm WW Ww ww Power D Spider DD Dd dd Climbing Z Shape- ZZ Zz zz Changing G Sorcery Magic GG Gg gg Gender Boy/Girl XY (Boy) XX (Girl) Phenotype How he/she looks
Table B: Superchild s genotypes and phenotypes Name of Superhero Dad: Name of Superhero Mom: Name of Superchild: Letter Trait Write your own in for K,L,M,N,O Genotype (Circle ONLY One) Super (dominant) Normal (recessive) F Ability to Fly FF Ff ff S Super Strength SS Ss ss H Super Speed HH Hh hh R X-Ray Vision RR Rr rr B Breathe BB Bb bb Underwater P Psychic Power PP Pp pp T Super TT Tt tt Stretching I Invisibility II Ii ii L. Laser Blast LL Ll ll Vision C Communicate CC Cc cc with animals M Martial Arts MM M mm Master m W Wind / Storm WW Ww ww Power D Spider DD Dd dd Climbing Z Shape- ZZ Zz zz Changing G Sorcery Magic GG Gg gg Gender Boy/Girl XY (Boy) XX (Girl) Phenotype How he/she looks
Analysis and Conclusion Questions: Answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper using complete sentences. 1. Do you think you can accurately determine a person s genotype by observing his or her phenotype? Explain 2. Would you expect the other pairs of students in your class to have an offspring completely similar to yours? Explain your answer. 3. How might it be possible for you to show a trait when none of your relatives shows it? 4. Do you think that anyone in your class has all the same genetic traits that you have? Explain your answer. 5. How do you explain the chance of having a boy or a girl is always 50-50?
Traits Dominant (both heads) Phenotypes Hybrid (one head, one tail) Recessive (both tails) Ability to Fly Fly (F) Glide (not actually fly) (Ff) Can t Fly (ff) Super Strength Super Strength (SS) Average Strength (Ss) No Super Strength (ss) Super Speed Super Speed (HH) Average Speed (Hh) No Super Speed (hh) X-Ray Vision X-Ray Vision (XX) X-Ray Vision (Xx) Normal Vision (xx) Breathe Underwater Breathe Underwater (BB) Breathe Underwater (Bb) Cannot Breathe Underwater (bb) Psychic Power Psychic Power (PP) Psychic Power (Pp) No Psychic Power (pp)
Super Stretching Super Stretching (TT) Super Stretching (Tt) Normal Flexibility (tt) Invisibility Invisibility (II) Invisibility (Ii) Not Invisible (ii) Laser Blast Vision Laser Blast Vision (LL) Laser Blast Vision (Ll) No Laser Blast Vision (ll) Communicates with animals Communicates with animals (AA) Communicates with Animals (Aa) Does not Communicate with animals (aa) Martial Arts Master Martial Arts Master (MM) Average Green Belt (Mm) No Martial Arts Master (mm) Wind / Storm Power Wind / Storm Power (WW) Wind / Storm Power (Ww) No Wind / Storm Power (ww) Spider Climbing
Spider Climbing (DD) Spider Climbing (Dd) No Spider Climbing (dd) Shape- Changing Shape-Changing (ZZ) Shape-Changing (Zz) No Shape-Changing (zz) Sorcery & Magic Sorcery & Magic (GG) Sorcery & Magic (Gg) No Sorcery & Magic (gg)
SuperPOWERS UNITE rubric Name: Partner: Date: Purpose The purpose of the poster is clearly accomplished. Drawings and Illustrations All illustrations, photographs, and drawings add to the purpose and interest of the poster. Data Tables Table A and Table B are completed correctly and included in the poster. Layout and Design/Creativity The overall organization, design, use of color, and use of space help to make the poster interesting and to communicate the message. 15 Punnett Squares 15 Punnett Squares are accurate and attached to the persuasive essay. Analysis and Conclusion?s All 5 analysis and conclusion questions are answered in complete sentences and answered accurately. 3--Exceptional 2--Good 1--Acceptable 0--Unacceptable 1. 3 2 1 0 2. 3 2 1 0 3. 3 2 1 0 4. 3 2 1 0 5. 3 2 1 0 6. 3 2 1 0 Persuasive Essay Essay is well written with accurate information. Includes punnett squares and analysis and conclusion questions. Neat and Presentable The poster is very neat and presentable. The proper paper was used. Turned in on time 7. 3 2 1 0 8. 3 2 1 0 9. 1 Total: / 25