Tongue rolling

Tongue rolling

Pencil and paperOnline interactive
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Further Resources
This task is about dominant and recessive genetic characteristics.
Read the information below about a genetic characteristic found in a family.
Pam and Greig had three children, all boys (Jason, Brian, and Ted). Pam and Greig could both roll their tongue, but of their children, only Jason and Brian could. Later, Jason married Anna (who cannot roll her tongue). They had a pair of identical twin girls called Cherie and Julie; both girls could roll their tongue. Ted later married Mary (who could not roll her tongue), and they had three children, Annie, Claire, and Pablo. None of their children could roll their tongues.

Question Change answer

a)  Use the information to complete the family tree below.
     Write the person's name under each symbol and shade the symbols where necessary.

Question

b)  Look at the chart above.
     Is the ability to tongue-roll a dominant or a recessive genetic characteristic? 

    • Dominant

    • Recessive

Explain your answer below.
Task administration: 
This task can be completed with pencil and paper or online.
Level:
5
Curriculum info: 
Science, Investigating in science, Living World
Keywords: 
evolution, genetics, family trees, diagram construction
Description of task: 
Students read a passage about a genetic characteristic found in a family. They use this information to complete a representation of an inheritance diagram by shading in and naming the persons of this family. Lastly a question about dominance and recessiveness is asked.
Curriculum Links: 
Science capabilities
The capabilities focus is brought about by the conversations you have and the questions you ask.
 
Capability: Interpret representations
This resource provides opportunities to discuss how scientists represent genetic relationships in diagrams. 
 
Science capabilities: 
Interpret representations
Answers/responses: 

 

Y10 (11/2002)
a) A family tree with the following correct information:

  • Correct connection between shading and names.
  • All people named.

all correct - very easy

1-2 errors - very easy 
 
 
 
all correct - moderate

1-2 errors - easy
b)
Tongue-rolling is a dominant genetic trait from the family tree:
Explanation:
Any 1 of:
  • When Jason (who could roll his tongue) married Anna (who could not roll her tongue) they still had children that could roll their tongue.
  • Pam and Greig who could both tongue roll had a son (Ted) who could not tongue roll.
 very difficult