Monster Genetics: Punnett Squares

Activity Summary
Students get creative and design their own monsters with the help of Punnett squares. First, students fill in a chart with all of the background genetic information on the monster-to-be’s mother and father. Using this data, students create monohybrid and dihybrid crosses with the parents’ alleles and pick the offspring’s traits from the potential genetic outcomes. Students then
use their knowledge of dominant vs. recessive traits and draw their monster according to the outcome of the crosses.

Grade Levels
9-12

Learning Objectives
1. Successfully complete monohybrid and dihybrid Punnett squares
2. Accurately depict the physical outcomes of their Punnett squares (dominant vs. recessive traits)
3. Differentiate between genotype and phenotype

Lesson Materials (view or download)
PowerPoint
Lesson Plan

Keywords
dominant, recessive, allele, genotype, phenotype

Last updated: 3/3/2015