Design a Species Project

For your project, you have 4 main parts that you are putting together.

First, you are creating a key for your traits. Your key will include sketches of the traits, the phenotype, and the genotype(s) for that trait. You will do this for all 5 of your traits. You do not have to sketch the entire organism, just the traits. For example, if you were doing purple fur or orange fur, you would sketch the body twice and color one purple and the other orange. Above or below the sketch you would write the phenotype (purple) and the genotype(s) for that traits (PP, Pp) do this for all of your traits.

Second, you will draw two versions of your organism, with all different traits. So, if one is purple, the other should be orange. You do not have to make one all dominant and one all recessive, mix it up. Once you have drawn your organism, write the phenotype and genotype for it. My one-eye, one-horned, flying, purple, people eater (all 5 traits!) would be OB (multiple alleles), HH, Ww, PP, XX (yep, its a girl, but that's the only way you can tell). Then, I would draw my three-eyed (TB), two-horned (hh), non-flying (ww), spotted orange (PO), vegetarian (XvY). He'll be male because you have to draw one of each, but you don't have to draw any characteristic that makes you realize it is male or female. Give your poor creatures names!

Third, you will create a dihybrid cross using the single allele (simplest ones) traits from the organisms you drew. My female had wings (Ww) and one horn (HH), so her genotype is EeHH. My male had no wings (ww) and two horns (hh), so his genotype is wwhh. Use those two genotypes to create your 4x4 Punnett Square. Remember FOIL-first, outside, inside, last!

Fourth, you will make up 5 questions about possible organisms and crosses you could make. These can be simple or complex, it is up to you! For example, Herbert is an orange people eater that has always dreamed of having purple or spotted children. He falls in love with Herberta, who is a spotted people eater. What are the possible genotypes and phenotypes of their children? Will Herbert's dream come true? Then, you draw the Punnett square and answer your own question.

Then, put it all together with a dazzling cover page that includes your name, date, title, and a cool picture or design to show what your project is about. Put your rubric on the very last page.

Last, staple it all together and hand it in and celebrate a job well done.