Peas in a Pod
Students explore the concept of inherited traits and understand the significance of Gregor Mendel's discoveries related to heredity.
Background
For each inherited trait, the offspring has two genes—one from each parent. If both genes are either dominant or recessive, the trait is called a purebred trait. If only one gene is dominant, the combination is called a hybrid trait. The Punnett square to the right shows a cross between two hybrid tall pea plants. T represents the dominant gene for tall and t represents the recessive gene for short. When two hybrid tall pea plants are crossed, three-fourths of the plants are tall, and one-fourth are short. You can predict that there is a 75% probability the offspring will be tall and a 25% probability the offspring will be short.Lesson Activities
When a purebred pea plant with yellow seeds is crossed with a purebred pea plant with green seeds, there is a 100% probability that the offspring will have yellow seeds. If this F1 generation (the first filial generation resulting from a cross between the first set of parents) is crossed, the results will be different.
When two dominant genes are present, the dominant gene will be expressed. When a dominant and a recessive gene are present, the dominant gene will be expressed. When two recessive genes are present, the recessive gene will be expressed.
When a hybrid pea plant with yellow seeds is crossed with another hybrid pea plant with yellow seeds, there is a 75% probability that the offspring will have yellow seeds and a 25% probability that the offspring will have green seeds. It is important to note that in the case of a hybrid, the dominant trait is what will be expressed.Recommended Companion Resources
Credits
Author
Lynn Wallin | Utah Agriculture in the Classroom
Standards
Texas Content Area Standards
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ELA: 4.110.6.b.1
Developing and sustaining foundational language skills: listening, speaking, discussion, and thinking- oral language. The students develops oral language through listening, speaking, and discussion.
- ELA: 4.1.D: The student is expected to work collaboratively with other to develop a plan of shared responsibilities.
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ELA: 5.110.7.b.1
Developing and sustaining foundational language skills: listening, speaking, discussion, and thinking- oral language. The students develops oral language through listening, speaking, and discussion.
- ELA: 5.1.D: The student is expected to work collaboratively with others to develop a plan of shared responsibilities.
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Math: 3.111.5.b.1
Mathematical process standards. The student uses mathematical processes to acquire and demonstrate mathematical understanding.
- Math: 3.1.C: The students is expected to select tools, including real objects, manipulatives, paper and pencil, and technology as appropriate, and techniques, including mental math, estimation, and number sense as appropriate, to solve problems.
- Math: 3.1.D: The student is expected to communicate mathematical ideas, reasoning, and their implications using multiple representations, including symbols, diagrams, graphs, and language as appropriate.
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Math: 4.111.6.b.1
Mathematical process standards. The student uses mathematical processes to acquire and demonstrate mathematical understanding.
- Math: 4.1.C: The students is expected to select tools, including real objects, manipulatives, paper and pencil, and technology as appropriate, and techniques, including mental math, estimation, and number sense as appropriate, to solve problems.
- Math: 4.1.D: The student is expected to communicate mathematical ideas, reasoning, and their implications using multiple representations, including symbols, diagrams, graphs, and language as appropriate.
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Math: 5.111.7.b.1
Mathematical process standards. The student uses mathematical processes to acquire and demonstrate mathematical understanding.
- Math: 5.1.C: The students is expected to select tools, including real objects, manipulatives, paper and pencil, and technology as appropriate, and techniques, including mental math, estimation, and number sense as appropriate, to solve problems.
- Math: 5.1.D: The student is expected to communicate mathematical ideas, reasoning, and their implications using multiple representations, including symbols, diagrams, graphs, and language as appropriate.
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Science: 4.112.15.b.10
Organisms and environments. The student knows that organisms undergo similar life processes and have structures and behaviors that help them survive within their environment.
- Science: 4.10.B: The student is expected to explore and describe examples of traits that are inherited from parents to offspring such as eye color and shapes of leaves and behaviors that are learned such as reading a book and a wolf pack teaching their pups to hunt effectively.
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Social Studies: 3.113.14.c.13
Science, technology, and society. The student understands how individuals have created or invented new technology and affected life in various communities, past and present. The student is expected to:
- Social Studies: 3.113.14.c.13.A: identify individuals who have discovered scientific breakthroughs or created or invented new technology such as Jonas Salk, Cyrus McCormick, Bill Gates, Louis Pasteur, and others
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Social Studies: 3.113.14.c.15
Social studies skills. The student communicates in written, oral, and visual forms. The student is expected to:
- Social Studies: 3.113.14.c.15.D: express ideas orally based on knowledge and experiences
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Social Studies: 4.113.15.c.21
Social studies skills. The student communicates in written, oral, and visual forms. The student is expected to:
- Social Studies: 4.113.15.c.21.C: express ideas orally based on research and experiences
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Social Studies: 5.113.16.c.22
Science, technology, and society. The student understands the impact of science and technology on society in the United States. The student is expected to:
- Social Studies: 5.113.16.c.22.A: identify the accomplishments of notable individuals in the fields of science and technology such as Benjamin Franklin, Eli Whitney, John Deere, Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, George Washington Carver, the Wright Brothers, and Neil Armstrong
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Social Studies: 5.113.16.c.25
Social studies skills. The student communicates in written, oral, and visual forms. The student is expected to:
- Social Studies: 5.113.16.c.25.C: express ideas orally based on research and experiences