Mendel Dreams

The Beginning of Genetics

Co Authors:	Clyde Freeman Herreid Department of Biological Sciences University at Buffalo herreid@buffalo.edu Paula P. Lemons Division of Biological Sciences University of Georgia plemons@uga.edu
Abstract:	In this PowerPoint-based clicker case, developed for use in either a general biology or general genetics class, students are introduced to the life and work of Gregor Mendel. The initial slides set up the story as we see Mendel, who is ill, reminiscing about his pea plant experiments. As the storyline unfolds, students are placed in a position where they have to think their way through some data the way that Mendel presumably had to do himself. The case covers the highlights of early genetics including monohybrid and dihybrid crosses, and discusses the downfall of the blending hypothesis.
Objectives:	Describe some of the history of Mendel's work on patterns of inheritance. Explain the blending hypothesis. Explain the law of the segregation of alleles. Explain the law of independent assortment. Set up a Punnett square correctly. Draw conclusions about inheritance from genetic cross data. Predict outcomes from genetic cross experiments. Design genetic cross experiments to answer questions about inheritance and analyze genetic cross experiments to improve them.
Keywords:	Heredity; inheritance; monohybrid; dihybrid; dominant; recessive; phenotype; genotype; alleles; homozygous; heterozygous; Punnett square; particle theory of inheritance; law of segregation; law of independent assortment; experimental design
Topical Area:	History of science, Scientific method
Educational Level:	Undergraduate lower division
Formats:	PDF, PowerPoint
Type/Method:	Clicker, Interrupted
Language:	English
Subject Headings:	Biology (General) Genetics / Heredity Botany / Plant Science
Date Posted:	8/14/2012
Date Modified:	N/A
Copyright:	Copyright held by the National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science, University at Buffalo, State University of New York. Please see our usage guidelines, which outline our policy concerning permissible reproduction of this work.

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