Science·Ecosystems & Habitats·conceptual
Predicting Inherited Traits
Explain how alleles are inherited in sexual reproduction and use Punnett squares to predict the probability of offspring inheriting a characteristic, including dominant and recessive alleles
Suggested ages 13–14
Evidence of understanding
- Defines allele, dominant, and recessive in the context of inheritance
- Constructs a Punnett square for a monohybrid cross and calculates probability ratios
- Explains the difference between genotype and phenotype
- Gives an example of a human characteristic controlled by dominant/recessive alleles
Assessment prompt
If Predicting Inherited Traits was asked why two brown-eyed parents can have a blue-eyed child, could they explain what dominant and recessive alleles are and show how it works using a Punnett square?
Standards alignment
MS-LS3-2US · ngss-ms
MS-LS3-2
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Middle School
KS3.Sci.Bio.Adaptation.6GB · uk-nc-2013
Mechanism of inheritance
The national curriculum in England: Key stages 1 and 2 framework document · KS3