1. Reebops for National 4 and 5

2. Looking for similarities and differences
Take a look at the animals on the laminated sheets.
List as many similarities as you can.
List as many differences as you can.
What do we call these differences?
Variation is all around us; both between species and within the same species. Let’s look at the variation within our own species next.

3. Here’s looking at you! We are all members of the same species – what similarities and differences can we spot?
Similarities
Differences

4. How will I know the humans?
If an alien beamed in ...
How will I know the humans?

5. Variation within a population
Discrete
Continuous
Tongue rolling, blood groups.
Genetic control – no other influence.
You either have the trait or you don’t!
Height, weight, hand-span.
Can be influenced by environmental factors.

6. Displaying your results
Continuous variation
Discrete variation

7. A fictional family tree!

8. Where do our genes come from?
From our parents
Mother
Father
egg from mother
sperm from father
2 copies of DNA in each cell
2 copies of DNA in each cell
nucleus containing
1 copy of father’s DNA
nucleus containing
1 copy of mother’s DNA
DNA from both parents
Child
Cell divides
Fertilised egg
nucleus containing complete set of DNA (set=2 copies, 1 copy from each parent)
Each cell has a complete set of DNA
Gene Jury

9. Making Reebops The purpose of this practical work is:
To examine how characteristics are inherited.
To show how sexual reproduction is responsible for tremendous variation within a population.
Investigate the factors that can influence an individual’s characteristics.

10. Reebops My Reebop Baby The kids! Head: purple play-dough
Dad
Mum
My Reebop Baby
tails
Head: purple play-dough
Body segments: green play-dough
Humps: pink play-dough
Antenna: pink straws
Noses: red or yellow pipe cleaners
Legs: purple or pink pipe cleaners
Eyes: wiggly eyes
Tails: brown pipe cleaners
Spine: wooden skewer
body segment
antennae
legs
humps
head
eyes
noses

11. Reebops Mum chromosomesA a Q q E e D d M m T t L l

12. Reebops Dad chromosomesQ q E e D d M m T t L l

13. Reebops Baby No. 1 a a Q q E e D d M m T T L l

14. Baby Reebops: Pedigree
Randomly select one gene from each parent for the 7 characteristics. Combine them on the baby Reebop recording sheet.
Fill in the pedigree for your new baby by writing down each of its 7 characteristics (e.g. red nose) on the parcel tag.
Choose a name for your Reebop.
Collect the materials that you will need for your baby and assemble it.

15. Ideas for discussion:
Place your Reebop in the “nursery” along with the other babies
What do you notice about the features of the babies?
How much genetic material does each parent provide?
Where is this genetic material stored in the parent?
Are there any babies that are identical?
How many babies are the same as their parents?