An activity you can use in the classroom
One of the key things you need to know about genetics is that characteristics are inherited in a random manner. In this activity, you will see the role chance plays in the assortment of chromosomes that pass from parents to offspring.
- two jars
- 15 red beans
- five white beans
- Put 10 red beans in Jar 1. These beans represent X chromosomes.
- Put five red beans and five white beans in Jar 2. The white beans represent Y chromosomes.
- Pass the jars around your group. Each person should close his or her eyes and select one bean from each jar.
- Drawing two red beans, or X chromosomes, produces a female. Drawing a red bean and a white bean, or an X and a Y chromosome, produces a male. Record your results on the worksheet.
- Repeat steps 3 and 4.
- Answer the worksheet questions.
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