The Reebop Project

Introduction      Dominant, recessive & codominant genes   Preparation    The Activity
  Curriculum for Excellence    Background Information   References

The Activity

Two pupils who have different coloured sets of chromosomes are paired up. The chromosomes should be laid face down on the table and each pupil randomly picks one chromosome of each length. The blue half set and pink half set are laid out as in Figure 4 – and thus the set of chromosomes for a new Reebop has been created. This set of chromosomes determines the baby’s characteristics.

Using the code given in Table 2 each pair of pupils makes their baby Reebop. The details of colours can be altered to suit the materials you have to hand.

Figure 4 – Baby Reebop 1 chromosomes

This Reebop (Figure 5) has been constructed using the set of chromosomes in Figure 4. In this case the Reebop has 3 eyes but in all other respects, looks the same as the parents.

If you want the same parents (i.e. pair of pupils) to have another baby Reebop so that, for example, each pupil has their own Reebop to take home, the whole process should be repeated. This will also give you a bigger population in which to explore variations. Even with only 7 chromosomes variation within the Reebop population will be clearly seen. To increase the variation, increase the number of chromosomes e.g. introduce XX (female) and XY (male).

Figure 5 – Baby Reebop 1

Figure 6 – Baby Reebop 2 chromosomes

Figure 7 – Baby Reebop 2

Curriculum for Excellence