Genetics and Heredity – Project Based Learning Project

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Are you looking for a fun and engaging way to approach genetics with your middle school science students?

Do you want your students to gain hands-on experience with genetics?

In the Heredity and Genetics Fictional Species Project students have the opportunity to practice a variety of different genetics concepts with a hands-on approach in a way that is both accessible and realistic.

Students begin the project by being introduced to a fictional species (the Blobber) with realistic traits and features. Students will create 2 individuals from this fictional species. This will become the individuals they observe throughout the project.

Choose from an animal-like fictional Blobber species OR a monster-like Blobber species depending on your needs and student interests. The animal-like Blobbers will show up again in later units such as the genetic mutations unit!

When your middle school students create their 2 individuals, they will select characteristics from a list of available traits and trait forms. Different traits have different advantages and disadvantages in the Blobber habitat, making the creation of the individuals a little like creating an avatar in a favorite game!

Once your students have created their individuals, they are ready to practice their genetic knowledge. First, students will determine the genotypes and phenotypes for each trait. Next, your science students will map out the chromosomes for each of the individuals. Your students will then determine the probability of each trait being passed down to an offspring using Punnett squares and finally, they will take each individual’s cell through the process of meiosis to create haploid cells.

The Haploid cells are randomly selected and “fused” together to create a new set of chromosomes for the offspring… a new Blobber! This is a fantastic, hands-on, highly visual way for your middle school science students to see how genes are “reshuffled,” leading to genetic diversity.

In final activity of the project, students will explore methods of asexual reproduction and consider its advantages and disadvantages.

Also included are the Teacher Tip Pages, providing you with lots of support, tips, and ideas, so that you can easily implement this heredity and genetics lesson into your science classroom!

Be sure to check the preview to see all that’s included and how you can use it in your classroom as you prepare your middle school science students to discover the world of genetics!

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