MS - LS1.B (0) - Reproduction and Variation - FINAL (WND 3/4/2014)

Module: Reproduction and Variation

DCI: LS1.B (0) Growth and Development of Organisms: Organisms reproduce, either sexually or asexually, and transfer their genetic information to their offspring.

PE: MS-LS3-2 Develop and use a model to describe why asexual reproduction results in offspring with identical genetic information and sexual reproduction results in offspring with genetic variation.

[Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on using models such as Punnett squares, diagrams, and simulations to describe the cause and effect relationship of gene transmission from parent(s) to offspring and resulting genetic variation.]

The ideas in this standard are: 

- organisms reproduce through sexual and asexual reproduction

- through asexual and sexual reproduction, parents transfer genetic information to their offspring

The primary focus of this batch should be distinction between asexual and sexual reproduction, based on the extent of genetic variation in the offspring.  We can have students examine traits of offspring and explain differences, we can ask them to pick which would be a result of sexual or asexual reproduction.  

Possible Question Starters: 

For organisms that reproduce sexually and those that reproduce asexually, the traits of the offspring depends directly on the parent or parents’ –