Have You Ever Wondered Why So Many People Can Look Different from Each Other Even When

EWORP Lab

Introduction: Have you ever wondered why so many people can look different from each other… even when they are closely related? Our particular combination of features makes us unique. Sometimes we share traits that are easy to trace back to a relative, and yet our particular combination is so special, we appear unique. To help us see how traits are passed from one generation to another we have devised a make-believe planet with very unique creatures called EWORPS. You will use a coin to determine the genetic traits of these creatures, and then a series of mating will produce generations of EWORPS!!! You will be observing these matings in class and drawing pictures to help illustrate the passing of characteristics from parents to children and grandchildren.

Directions 1. Chromosome Toss: Toss a coin to determine the features of the parental generation. The first toss determines the sex of the EWORP. HEADS = Y chromosome, TAILS = X Chromosome. Females can be distinguished by their ultra long eyelashes, and makes have short eyelashes. Toss for the paternal chromosome only as the maternal chromosome is always X. 2. Gene / Chromosome Tosses: Next toss the coins for each gene / Chromosome inherited by the offspring. HEADS = CAPITAL LETTER OR DOMINANT TRAIT. TAILS = lower case letter or recessive trait. Fill out the first sheet by recording the results of each toss. Write a capital letter when the coin toss is heads. Remember for each trait except eye color and skin color, toss the coin one time for the paternal gene / chromosome (Dad’s gift) and once for the maternal gene / chromosome (Mom’s gift). Each parent donates one chromosome toward the pair that makes up the homologous pair. Each chromosome can carry many genes which code for traits or characteristics of the organism. 3. Pictures: Make your way through the following 18 traits following the directions for each one. Use the pictures to then draw your EWORP baby! You need to first practice on a sketch paper before getting a larger sheet from your teacher for your final product! Everyone’s baby will be slightly different… but isn’t that what makes us so special!!!  Have fun!

1. Eye Style: a. STRAIGHT (SS OR Ss) b. Droopy (ss)

2. Skull Shape: a. ALMOND (AA or Aa) b. Balloon (aa)

3. Lips: a. SEXY (FF or Ff) b. fluted (ff) 4. Skin / Fur Color To determine the color of skin, assume three gene pairs are involved. Flip your coins first to determine the genotype of the first pair of genes (AA, Aa, or aa). Next flip for the second and third pairs (BB, Bb, or bb) and (CC, Cc, or cc). Color is based on the number of CAPITAL LETTERS. Another words… flip the coin 6 times to determine the color of your baby!

# of CAPITALS COLOR ` 1 Red 2 Orange 3 Yellow 4 Green 5 Blue 6 Purple

5. Amount of fur on the Arms: a. FUR (FF or Ff) b. no fur (ff)

6. Amount of fur on the face: a. FUR (FF OR Ff) b. no fur (ff)

7. Amount of fur on the Legs: a. FUR (FF or Ff) b. no fur (ff)

8. Amount of fur on the Torso: a. FUR (FF or Ff) b. no fur (ff)

9. Ear Shape: a. EWOK SHAPED (EE or Ee) b. mouse shaped (ee)

10. Eye Color: 2 Gene pairs code for eye color. First determine for the first pair (AA, Aa, or aa), next determine the other pair (BB, Bb, or bb).

Genotype Phenotype Genotype Phenotype AABB Black AAbb Dark Blue AABb Brown aaBB Dark Blue AaBB Brown Aabb Light Blue AaBb Brown aabb Pale Blue aaBb Green 11. Hair: Baldness is carried on the X or SEX chromosome only (not the “y”). Female toss twice, if male toss once. H = heads, and O = tails. Then apply this to the sex of your baby! a. Has Scalp hair / fur i. Female: (X X , X X ) ii. Male: (X Y) b. Hairless or Bald i. Female: (X X ) ii. Male: (X Y)

12. Neck Size: a. Short Neck (NN or Nn) b. long neck (nn)

13. Body Shape: a. Squatty Body (QQ or Qq) b. Long, skinny body (qq)

14. Belly Button a. Outie (OO or Oo b. Innie (oo)

15. Number of Fingers a. Four Fingers (GG or Gg) b. Two fingers (gg)

16. Feet Shape: a. Paddle Feet (WW or Ww) b. Web feet (ww)

17. Fire: a. Breathes Fire (HH or Hh) b. no fire (hh)

18. Warts: a. Attractive knee warts (KK or Kk) b. naked knees (kk)