Lesson Plan: Genes and Chromosomes Science • Third Year of Preparatory School
This lesson plan includes the objectives, prerequisites, and exclusions of the lesson teaching students how to describe the structure of chromosomes and explain what a gene is.
Objectives
Students will be able to
- state that DNA is genetic material,
- recall that DNA is arranged in long strands called chromosomes, contained in the nucleus of cells,
- state that a normal human body cell contains 46 chromosomes (23 pairs),
- define a gene as a section of DNA that controls certain characteristics,
- understand that DNA can unexpectedly change and that this is known as a mutation,
- describe the contributions made by Franklin, Watson, and Crick to the discovery of DNA.
Prerequisites
Students should already be familiar with
- the fact that living organisms are made up of many cells,
- the basic structure of an animal cell,
- the concept that different organisms can vary in their appearance.
Exclusions
Students will not cover
- inheritance of genes,
- gene expression (transcription and translation),
- the types of genetic mutations (insertion, deletion, and substitution).
