Summer SAVY 2016 (Session 4AM/PM, Day 7) – The Science of Complexity

Posted by hallep on Tuesday, July 19, 2016 in Grade 1, Grade 2, SAVY.

We started a new complex system today – genetics! Students learned that DNA controls our traits with genes. In this system, the “parts” are letters, like ACTG. The rules are about how these parts can bind or be used to code for amino acids, and the pattens are the complex living things that DNA codes for. Students transcribed and translated a strand of DNA to make a protein. Then, they learned how to predict offsprings’ traits using Punnett Squares (a 7th grade science standard in TN). At the end of the class, they chose genes for their own monsters, and used Punnett squares to predict the genes of baby monsters.

Tomorrow, we will see how genes in a population slowly change over time as we learn about natural selection.