Genetics and DNA

Biological Inheritance & Genetic Engineering

Head into the lab for an in-depth investigation of genetics, the branch of biology focused on heredity and variation in organisms, and DNA, the acid that holds the blueprints for life. See genetic material with your own eyes as you isolate the DNA from a tomato in a test tube. Investigate inheritance and learn how traits are passed down from parents to children. Learn about dominant and recessive genes and play inheritance games to determine how traits will be expressed.

Learn about the biology of reproduction, the components of cells, and how chromosomes are combined and copied. Assemble a model to see the elegant double-stranded helical structure of DNA. Then crack the genetic code and find out how the different parts, called nucleotides, fit together to compose it. Read about how scientists use DNA sequencing to reveal the order of nucleotides in DNA.

Analyze DNA evidence to identify suspects and solve a crime. Learn about the influential scientists, including Mendel, Watson, and Crick, who made breakthrough contributions to this field.

Breed your own bacteria colony to experiment with genetic engineering. Read about how mutation affects genes and how scientists clone plants and animals. The full-color, 48-page manual guides your experiments.
Ages 10 and up.

Features

• isolate the DNA from a tomato
• learn about inheritance and how traits are expressed
• build a DNA model
• breed bacteria to experiment with genetic engineering

Multiple Intelligences

Our toy experts have indicated that the Genetics and DNA strengthens the following Intelligences:

Math-Logical

Children with strong Math-Logical intelligence have the ability to reason deductively and can recognize and manipulate abstract patterns or relationships. Students who have strong problem-solving and reasoning skills will excel in this intelligence.

Intrapersonal

Children who are strong in the Intrapersonal intelligence have the ability to understand one's own emotions, goals and motivations. These students have good instincts about their strengths and abilities.

Naturalist

Children with strong focus in this intelligence will exhibit an affinity for all things nature. These students will enjoy and thrive when learning about nature topics, such as flora and fauna.