Monster Genetics Lab | Heredity Simulation

Introducing the EDITABLE Monster Genetics Lab, the perfect way to learn the complexities and intricacies of heredity in a fun and interactive way! This genetics inheritance lab is designed to help middle and high school students understand the mechanisms of Mendelian and non-Mendelian traits that can be inherited and passed down generations. A terrific alternative to the common baby genetics version, this simulation encourages students to be creative and work collaboratively.

With this simulation, your students flip coins and play rock-paper-scissors to choose alleles to observe how different traits are passed on depending on the combination of genes and explore the different possibilities for their monster offspring. By combining real-world genetics with the fantasy of monster babies, the lab helps students understand Mendel’s laws of heredity and non-Mendelian inheritance.

The Monster Genetics Simulation provides a review worksheet to summarize the different inheritance patterns and characteristics of different traits. This comprehensive worksheet covers various forms of inheritance and encourages students to think beyond the basics to understand the concepts of heredity. With this lab, students can gain a better understanding of heredity and its effects on family genetics.

Students will:

• Choose alleles for 25 different Mendelian and non-Mendelian traits to complete a monster genetic medical record.
• Draw a monster that matches the details of the medical record.
• Answer the review questions using what they learned in the simulation.
• Vote on student monsters to receive the “Monster Awards” (optional).

I normally complete this with my students over three class periods of forty-five minutes.

Inheritance patterns include: dominant/recessive, sex-linked traits, polygenic traits, multiple alleles, codominance and incomplete dominance.
Why Choose This Simulation?

Suggestions: Have shape templates or object students can use to draw different sizes of circles, ovals, squares and rectangles. You will find they will get very serious about the structure of their monsters! It is part of why this has been one of my most successful simulations of the year.

What’s Included:

1. Student copy of the monster simulation and medical record (.docx) and PDF
2. Grading rubric (.docx)
3. Answer key to the review questions (.docx)
4. Variety of monster awards with blank awards for customization (PowerPoint)

Introduce the Monster Genetics Lab to your genetics curriculum and watch your students gain a deeper, more enjoyable understanding of heredity and genetic inheritance. Buy now and make genetics come alive in your classroom!