Week 7 Blog

What did you learn this week?

This week, I explored the importance of DNA packaging. I learned that DNA is efficiently packed inside the nucleus without becoming tangled, which helps protect genetic information from damage and plays a key role in regulating gene expression. This regulation ensures that specific genes are accessible when needed. In class, we built a DNA model to demonstrate the precise order in which DNA is packaged.

Are you able to relate what you learned to what you already knew?

In previous years, I learned about dominant and recessive genes, where dominant traits are represented by uppercase letters and recessive traits by lowercase letters. This week, I expanded on that knowledge by learning about phenotypes. I now understand that a phenotype refers to the observable traits resulting from gene expression. While I previously knew that dominant genes are expressed, I did not know the specific term for it until now.

How can you apply what you've learned to your teaching in the future?

In my future teaching, I can incorporate hands-on activities, such as having students create a DNA model to visualize how DNA is structured and organized. Additionally, I can use the "baby lab" activity to illustrate how dominant and recessive genes influence traits in offspring. These activities will help students develop a deeper understanding of genetic concepts in an engaging and interactive way.





Comments

  1. Makenna KopfMarch 6, 2025 at 10:04 AM

    Hi Macy! Good post! I thought the activities we did this week were super interesting and helpful to grow our knowledge, and will be useful for our future careers.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Elise WareMarch 6, 2025 at 11:03 AM

    Hi Macy! I also had previously learned about dominant and recessive genes before this class. I really enjoyed getting to do hands-on activities that I can potentially use in my future classroom. Learning about these different activities is very beneficial and I'm happy we get to experience this!

    ReplyDelete
  3. McKenna KleinMarch 6, 2025 at 11:12 AM

    Hi Macy!
    I also thought that the "baby lab" would be great activity to incorporate in the classroom. I think that it is a fun and engaging activity that elementary students would really enjoy. I agree with what you said about these types of actives helping student develop a better understanding of genetics.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jenna DyerMarch 9, 2025 at 4:37 PM

    Hi Macy, I agree to what you mentioned about learning more about phenotypes. It’s interesting how everything connects and how the packaging of DNA helps make sure the right genes are turned on to show certain traits. The activities you plan to use, like building a DNA model and the "baby lab," sound like great ways to help students understand these topics in a clear and hands-on way.

    ReplyDelete

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