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 Chapter 12: Cell Reproduction

Mutations Mutations can result in dominant or recessive genes. A recessive characteristic can appear only if an organism has two recessive genes for that characteristic. However, a dominant characteristic can appear if an organism has one or two dominant genes for that characteristic. Why do some mutations result in more common traits while others do not?

How can a mutation become a common trait?

Form a hypothesis about how a mutation can become a common trait.

Goals Observe traits of various animals Research how mutations become traits. Gather data about mutations. Make a frequency table of your findings and communicate them to other students. Data Sources Weblinks View Student Data

Plan Observe common traits in various animals, such as household pets or animals you might see in a zoo. Learn what genes carry these traits in each animal. Research the traits to discover which ones are results of mutations. Are all mutations dominant? Are any of these mutations beneficial? Do Make sure your teacher approves your plan before you proceed. Decide if a mutation is beneficial, harmful, or neither. Record your data in your Science Journal.

Record in your Science journal a list of traits that are results of mutations. Describe an animal, such as a pet or an animal you've seen in the zoo. Point out which traits are known to be the result of mutation. Make a chart that compares recessive mutations to dominant mutations. Which are more common? Share your data with other students by posting it on the form below. Compare your findings to those of your classmates and other data on this Web site. What were some of the traits your classmates found that you did not? Which were the most common? Look at your chart of mutations. Are all mutations beneficial? When might a mutation be harmful to an organism? How would your data be affected if you had performed this activity when one of these common mutations first appeared? Do you think you would see more or less animals with this trait? Mutations occur every day but we only see a few of them. Infer how many mutations over millions of years can lead to a new species.

Results

Common Traits Animal Type of Trait Result of Mutation? Beneficial of Harmful Animal Type of Trait Result of Mutation? Beneficial of Harmful Animal Type of Trait Result of Mutation? Beneficial of Harmful Animal Type of Trait Result of Mutation? Beneficial of Harmful Animal Type of Trait Result of Mutation? Beneficial of Harmful * City: * State: Select Your State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Not Applicable * School: * required