Genetic inheritance & natural selection revision game

This game based on snakes and ladders includes a range of revision questions to help students discuss key definitions and concepts about genetic inheritance, genetic change and variation.

Resource works best for students who are studying specialist biology.

Concepts students will revise:

• Genes, chromosomes and basic inheritance
• Evolution through natural selection and sources of variation
• Population bottlenecks and the founder effect

What you will need:

• Each student will need a counter (alternatively each student can use a coloured bead, self sculpted paper clip, etc.)
• Each group of students will need a die (alternatively use an app or website)
• Print a copy of the sheet for each group of students.

How to use:

• Game can be played in groups of two to four students.
• Students can play this game open or closed book depending on their familiarity with the content.
• Students should check each other’s responses against their notes.
• An answer sheet is included.

Questions included:
What is the impact of linked genes on offspring variation?
What is the difference between a genotype and a phenotype?
How does migration affect a gene pool?
How does genetic drift affect a gene pool?
How does multiple allele systems work?
What factors can change the allele frequency in a population?
How does the founder effect genetic drift??
How does natural selection work?
How does speciation occur?
Explain how the ABO blood types are inherited?
What is the difference between codominance and incomplete dominance?
What does meiosis affect link genes?
How does one determine if two genes are linked?
How is genetic variation affected by the bottleneck effect?
How is genetic variation affected by the founder effect?
How are mutations inherited?
Mutation and meiosis both introduce variation. How are the different?
What is a pedigree diagram?
Two parents with genotype GgHh were crossed. Are these genes linked if a 9:3:3:1 ratio resulted?
How does meiosis introduce variation between offspring?
What is the difference between a sister chromatid and a homologous chromosome?
What is a sister chromatid?
How is biological sex determined for humans?
Explain how lethal alleles are maintained in a population?
Why might the phenotype ratio in a dihybrid cross not result in the expected phenotype ratio?
What is the difference between a haploid and a diploid cell?
How does low genetic diversity affect endangered species’ ability to recover?
Why might high genetic diversity in humans have been helpful during the COVID pandemic?
Kauri lost 90% of its diversity…How does this affect their recovery from Kauri dieback?
What concepts do you most need to revise?
Why is reduced variation a problem for endangered species?