Genetics of Magical Ability in Harry Potter, Study notes of Genetics

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Basic Genetic Concepts & Terms

Genetics: what is it?

• What is genetics?

– “Genetics is the study of heredity , the process in which a

parent passes certain genes onto their children.”

(http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/

8.htm)

• What does that mean?

– Children inherit their biological parents’ genes that

express specific traits , such as some physical

characteristics, natural talents, and genetic disorders.

Word Match Activity

• base pair

• cell

• chromosome

• DNA

(Deoxyribonucleic Acid)

• double helix*

• genes

• nucleus

Illustration Source: Talking Glossary of

Genetic Terms

http://www.genome.gov/glossary.cfm?k

ey=chromosome

base pair

cell

nucleus chromosome

(double

helix)

DNA

genes

Genetic Concepts

• H describes how some traits are

passed from parents to their children.

• The traits are expressed by g , which are

small sections of DNA that are coded for

specific traits.

• Genes are found on ch ___.

• Humans have two sets of _ (hint: a number)

chromosomes—one set from each parent.

Genetic Terms Use library resources to define the following words and write their definitions using your own words.

• allele:
• genes:
• dominant :
• recessive:
• homozygous:
• heterozygous:
• genotype:
• phenotype:
• Mendelian Inheritance:

Mendelian Inheritance

1. The inherited traits are determined by genes that

are passed from parents to children.

2. A child inherits two sets of genes—one from each

parent.

3. A trait may not be observable, but its gene can be

passed to the next generation.

Pre‐lesson Activity slide notes for suggested discussion guides for teachers

Slide 1: This set of slides can be used as a review or introduction of basic genetic concepts that students should know before the Lessons 1 and 2. Slide 2: Conduct a brief class discussion to assess students’ knowledge and assumptions about genetics, while providing the information to those students who may not have any prior knowledge. Slice 3: Hand out the Word Match Activity worksheet and ask students to work in pairs to complete the worksheet. If needed, tell students that “double helix*” is paired with another term, and that both terms should be placed in one of the six areas indicated on the illustration. Slide 4: Have students volunteer the answers and clarify that “double helix” is the structure of DNA. Slide 5: Use this overhead for students to complete the 4 sentences. Slide 6: Have students volunteer their answers, and help students understand that the inherited traits are passed from one generation to the next as the parents’ chromosomes are copied and passed to their children. Slide 7: ( Optional ) For this task, pre‐arrange with a school librarian or media specialist to provide students with the computers with the web sites, “Talking Glossary of Genetic Terms” (http://www.genome.gov/10002096) and/or “DNA from the Beginning’s Classical Genetics” (http://www.dnaftb.org/dnaftb/), in addition to other reference materials student pairs can used to complete the task. Hand out the Basic Genetic Terms worksheet and provide reference materials for students to use in completing the worksheet. Have student pairs take turns in sharing their definitions and examples of the terms. (See the Basic Genetic Terms for Teachers for sample definitions and examples.) Slide 8: Review key concepts of Mendelian Inheritance with students. For #3, ask students what situations may call for an unobservable trait to be passed from parents to children. Students may be able to apply their understanding of dominant and recessive traits where parents with both dominant and recessive traits only show dominant traits while being able to pass their recessive traits to the next generation. Slide 9: Review with students the term “allele” (a variant form of a gene) and help students understand that each gene has a pair or two alleles—one allele from mom and the other from dad.

Genetics in Harry Potter ’s World

Lesson 1

• Phenotypes & Genotypes

• Dominant & Recessive Traits

• Punnett Square

Inherited Physical Traits in Harry Potter "All the Weasleys have red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford." -- Draco Malfoy ( Sorcerers Stone , Ch.6) He was almost twice as tall as a normal man and at least five times as wide. ( Sorcerer’s Stone , Ch.1) Harry had a thin face, knobby knees, black hair, and bright green eyes. ( Sorcerer’s Stone , Ch.1) A pale boy with a pointed face and white- blond hair, Draco greatly resembled his father. His mother was blonde too... ( Goblet of Fire , Ch.8)

Applying Genetics to the Harry Potter Characters

• What are some phenotypes (observable traits) described in the four excerpts from the Harry Potter books?

Applying Genetics to the Harry Potter Characters

• A genetic trait can be described in two ways:
  • Phenotypes are observable traits resulting from how one’s genes are expressed. Ex., hair color, a talent, sickle cell disease, etc.
  • A Genotype consists of two letters that represent a gene’s allele pair that results in a phenotype.

Example: Freckles

• Two possible phenotypes for freckles are:

– Has Freckles (observable)

– No freckles (observable)

• A genotype for freckles is indicated by two alleles in

one of the genes that causes freckles. The possible

alleles using the first letter of the trait “f” are:

– F (dominant) = Has Freckles

– f (recessive) = No freckles

Question: Using F and f , what are possible genotypes

of the allele pair for freckles?

Example: Red Hair

• In one of the genes that determines hair color, red

hair is recessive to brown hair. One way to describe

these hair color alleles are:

– Red hair = r (notes recessive red color)

– Brown hair = R (notes dominant brown color)

Question: Using r (red hair) and R (brown hair) alleles,

what possible genotypes of the allele pair are there?

Genotype (allele pair) Phenotype (appearance)

Example: Red Hair

Question: Using R (brown hair) and r (red hair) alleles,

what possible genotypes of the allele pair are there?

Genotype (allele pair) Phenotype (appearance)

RR ====== brown hair

Rr ====== brown hair

rr ====== red hair