Teachers! Scroll down for one of my favorite resources for teaching genetics.
@aplantbiologist makes a guest appearance in this cartoon (left front). Anaa is earning her Ph.D. in plant genetics at Yale. Here’s what she says about her research:
We’re a plant developmental biology lab so we’re interested in why plants grow the way they do and how they know how to do it. I’m interested in understanding the molecular signaling mechanisms that govern petal size and shape.
Through her social media, Anaa shares insights into graduate school including fun day-in-the-life videos. I really enjoy her energy!
Musical Mutations (A Teacher Resource)
Anaa and the other scientists in the cartoon are excited to study a new mutant. A mutant is an organism with a change in its DNA. Sometimes the change in DNA gives the organism new and different properties.
Below is an analogy I use in my teaching. It helps students think about the relationship between mutations, genes, alleles, and what makes something dominant or recessive. (Download my description of how I use this in class and the images–PowerPoint or individual–for FREE from the Lab Meeting Google Drive.)
Just as sheet music is instructions to the musician, the DNA is instructions to the organism. When the sheet music–or the DNA–is altered, there are consequences!
Note: The plant in this cartoon is almost certainly has a gain-of-function allele.
Drawing
Here’s the original version of this cartoon from 2008. For the new drawing, I wanted more people and action. The plant running around on its roots is better than the little “legs” in the original. Some elements remain: shelves with plants and grow lights, and the bag of soil.