S+Baum,+Jennifer+Lynn

**Office:** EDU 110 **Office Phone:** 207-778-2665 **Office Hours:** Monday and Wednesday 12:00-1:00 ** E-mail: ** jennifer.l.baum@maine.edu
 * Teacher:** Ms. Baum

=Summary of Unit:= Welcome to Genetics 101! In this unit, we will explore genetics and the incredible role our genes play in our lives now, in the past, and in the future. First, we will explore the role of DNA in transferring traits from one generation to the next. We will also look at the genetic differences within cells of the same organism. Variation is a critical and important aspect in adaptations and survival for the millions of species and people on this planet. We will look at the genetic differences between individuals, species, and evolving new species. At the end of the unit, you will have the opportunity to show your understanding of this material by creating an online poster where you will be able to create a mutant/adaptation gene that could be used to advance a particular species. You will be able to describe how the trait will be passed down between generations, how it will differentiate and be expressed between cells, and how it will allow the species to adapt. By the end of this unit, you will know a great deal of details about how you fit into your genes and how genes fit into your life.

=Establish Goals= Maine Learning Results: Science and Technology-E. The Living Environment E4. Heredity and Reproduction Grade 9-Diploma Genetics Students examine the role of DNA in transferring traits from generation to generation, in differentiating cells, and in evolving new species.

= = =Students will understand that= • DNA plays a vital role in transferring traits from generation to generation. • differentiation can be found within and among cells of the same organism. • differences in DNA contribute to variation between individuals, species, and evolving new species.

= = =Essential Questions= • How does DNA play a role in the transferring of traits from generation to generation? • Why does differentiation occur within and among cells of the same organism? • How do differences in DNA contribute to the variation between individuals, species, and evolving new species?

= = =Students will know= • //Terminology//—genetic transfer, DNA, RNA, genes, differentiation, gametes, chromosomes, gene mutations, chromosomal mutations, amino acids, haploid, diploid, replication, genome, homologous, heterozygous, nucleus, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) • //Critical Details//—Classical Genetics, Punnett Squares, Transcription, Translation, mitosis, meiosis, Law of Segregation, Law of Independent Assortment, DNA Replication •//Important Events/people//—Mendel, Watson & Crick, Rosalind Franklin, Linus Pauling, Human Genome Project

= = =Students will be able to= •predict how a given mutation would affect an individual and the next generation. •translate segments of DNA. •design a new species; explain some mutations it may have and how the unique traits are passed down to the resulting offspring. •analyze Mendel’s Law of Independent Assortment and Law of Segregation and point out some of the exceptions that we have learned with advancements in technology. •imagine you are a stem cell, describe two different paths you may take in your life. •be aware of the similarities and differences between cells within an organism.

**Performance Task Overview** Your task is to design a new mutant gene to help humans adapt to the ever-changing world we live in. You are a young team of scientists with the opportunity to sell your idea and receive a substantial amount of funding for the subsequent research. You need to convince a team of researchers from Jackson Labs that you are a worthy investment and that you have come up with the best mutation/adaptation for the human species. The challenge involves dealing with the many changes in our world including our environment and way of life. You have been challenged to figure out what traits and adaptations would best allow humans to adjust and keep up with these drastic changes in our world. In order to complete this challenge, you will create a Glogster (an online poster) that you will use to convince the team of researchers that you have come up with the best mutation/adaptation to help humans adapt to these changes that your team feels is most important to adapt to.

=Expectations= Attendance plays a critical role in your success in this class because each class you miss will only create more work for you to catch up with the rest of the class. I expect you to attend class and be on time for every class. If an emergency arises, I am more than willing to be flexible with you if you take the responsibility to contact me immediately to make an individual plan for making up what was missed. Included in attendance is the expectation that you participate in all aspects of class, come prepared, and cooperate with your fellow classmates and myself. I want you all to succeed and learn from this class, so I will help you as much as I can if you are willing to take the time and responsibility to talk to me about your needs.

I expect you to turn in all work on time. We are all humans and have extenuated and unexpected circumstances that can arise so I am willing to be flexible with you as long as you communicate with me about your unique circumstances and individual needs. If you do not take the time and responsibility to communicate with me, however, I will not be as flexible. I will provide you with opportunities to improve your work on an as needed basis if you are responsible about getting your work turned in on time. If you are absent, your missed work will be due the day after you get back. Please talk to me and be mindful of due dates! (keep up with class wiki)

Academic honesty is very important, not only in this class, but in every aspect of your schooling and life. There is a zero tolerance policy in place for plagiarism and academic dishonesty. If you are caught breaking this rule, you will receive an automatic zero and will be documented. You are all capable of creating your own work, so there is no need to steal someone else’s hard work and creativity. If you have any questions about this topic, please come see me or refer to the school’s guidelines on the Academic Integrity and Honesty Code.

=Benchmarks= __//Total points for Unit: **550**//__

After learning about the processes of replication, transcription, and translation, students will work in small groups to create a Comic Life in order to organize each of the major processes. There will be several different groups (at least 3) that will each be assigned to explain a given process. The Comic Life product should be rich with detail and presented in a creative, original, accurate, and organized way in order to better understand the assigned process. Students should be able to know how to translate segments of DNA and be able to transcribe and replicate a segment of DNA.
 * DNA Comic Life (50 points)**:

In class we will go into great detail and demonstrate how Mendelian genetics works and will discuss the exceptions and limitations to his laws. After this lesson, each student will be responsible for writing a blog entry in the format of a newspaper article where each student will pretend that they are the first person to figure out the exceptions to Mendel’s Laws and persuade the readers how and why parts of his Laws are not accurate.
 * Mendelian Newspaper Article Blog (40 points):**

After learning about how genes are passed down from one generation to the next, students will be able to apply the concepts of heredity to their own family. They will be asked to research their family history and create a genealogy tree in which they follow at least three different traits and diseases between generations.
 * Family Tree Wiki (60 points):**

Students will learn about how cells within the same organism (with the same DNA) are able to differ in function, appearance, and location. After this lesson, students will have the opportunity to express their creativity by creating a podcast in the form of a song, rap, story, interview, etc…which explains and describes the differences and similarities of cells within an organism.
 * Cell-to-Cell Podcast (50 points):**

During the lesson on stem cells and how they differentiate, students will create an iMovie about the life of a stem cell and two possible paths that it could take in its life and describe the genetic differences and the role of gene expression in variation between cells of the same organism.
 * The Story of a Stem Cell-iMovie (90 points):**

Towards the end of the unit, students will have the opportunity to create a new species and describe the unique traits it may have, which are dominant or recessive, and how those traits are passed down from one generation to the next. After designing their species, they will create a Glogster, which provides all of this information and will present this to the rest of the class. Students will have the choice of working alone or in small groups (not more than three people).
 * New Species Glogster (60 points):**

Over the course of the unit, students will be given several quizzes which will count as 5-10 points each. The five best scores will be recorded and count towards the student's final grades. Some quizzes will be taken individually, while others can be done in partners or small groups.
 * Quizzes (50 points)**

Genetics, mutations, and adaptations all play a critical role in our lives. With our quickly changing world, need to adapt is necessary for survival. With this in mind, each student will take on the role of a potential genetic researcher in order to create a genetic mutation/adaptation, which would be useful for the human species. In this final assessment for the unit, you will have to include information about differentiation, how your mutation is unique, how it will be passed down from one generation to the next as well as how you can use stem cells to change the desired gene.
 * Performance Task (150 points):**

=Grading Scale= A (93 -100), A- (90 - 92), B+ (87 - 89), B (83 - 86), B- (80 - 82), C+(77 - 79), C (73-76), C- (70 - 72), D+(67 - 69), D (63 - 66), D- (60 - 62), F (0 - 59).