Mitosis, Meiosis and Fertilization
In the hands-on activity, Mitosis, Meiosis and Fertilization, students use model chromosomes to simulate the processes of mitosis, meiosis and fertilization, and they answer questions designed to promote student understanding of these processes. The principle that genes are inherited through the processes of meiosis and fertilization is demonstrated by analyzing a simulation of meiosis and fertilization that uses model chromosomes with different alleles of a gene. Students also learn how a mistake in meiosis can result in Down Syndrome.
Download Student Handout: PDF format or Word format
Download Teacher Preparation Notes: PDF format
We invite comments on this Hands-On Activity and the accompanying Teacher Preparation Notes, including suggestions for other teachers who are planning to use the activity, useful preparatory or follow-up activities, additional resources or any questions you have related to the activity, or a brief description of any problem you might have encountered. If you have a relevant Word document you would like to have posted on this comments page, such as a version of the protocol you have used in your classroom, or if you would prefer to send your comments or questions in a private message, please write Ingrid Waldron at iwaldron@sas.upenn.edu.
See also a complete list of activities:
Hands-on Activities for Teaching Biology to High School and Middle School Students
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Introduction and Activities Listing
Introduction to Biology
- Is Yeast Alive?
- Alcoholic Fermentation in Yeast
- Moldy Jell-O
- Enzymes Help Us Digest Food
- Starch and Protein Investigation
- Who Took Jerell’s iPod? -- An Organic Compound Mystery
- Diffusion across a Selectively Permeable Membrane
- Investigating Osmosis
Cell Division and Genetics
- Mitosis, Meiosis and Fertilization
- Genetics
- Dragon Genetics I
- Dragon Genetics II
- Using Blood Tests to Identify Babies and Criminals
Molecular Biology
Evolution and Diversity
- Evolution by Natural Selection
- Some Similarities between the Spread of An Infectious Disease and Population Growth
- What Parts of a Plant Do We Eat?
- Invertebrate Diversity
Human Physiology 
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Comments
Another material for models
I made the model chromosomes out of bendable hair rollers found at beauty supply stores. They come in a variety of widths and 9 5/8" lengths. I used 3/4" and 5/8" widths in two colors, gray and orange. They are easily cut with scissors for the foam and wire cutters for the wire core. I cut them into 5 7/8" and 3 3/4" lengths for the longer and shorter chromatids. I used permanent markers to add the stripes and for the alleles. Sticky back Velcro circles attached the sister chromatids together. I was also able to make it possible to demonstrate cross over by cutting off portions of the chromatids and reattaching them with Velcro circles. I made two sets of model chromosomes out of two packages of rollers. With 4 packages you could make 5 sets.
thank you
Thank you very much for your very helpful, creative and practical suggestion.
Ingrid
August, 2011 Revision
The Teacher Preparation Notes now include instructions for making model chromosomes from swim noodles or socks. Sockosomes look like metaphase chromosomes in a karyotype and they are small enough for easy classroom use and storage, but they are relatively time-consuming to make. Chromonoodles are relatively easy to make, but they are larger (up to 8" long). If you want to make Chromonoodles, we recommend purchasing the needed swim noodles now during the summer swim season. We have also made modest improvements in some of the questions in the Student Handout. Also, a key is now available upon request to iwaldron@sas.upenn.edu
January 2011 revisions
The Student Handout has been revised and reorganized to focus more on the key learning goals, improve the logical flow, and reduce redundancy and the length of the handout. The Teacher Preparation Notes have also been revised, with additional information included.
January 2010 revisions
The Student Handout has been reformatted for greater ease of classroom use, and the Teacher Preparation Notes have been clarified with improved instructions for making the sockosomes and an expanded and improved section of instructional suggestions.
Revisions
I've used this student packet for three years now and I love it. It does a great job of highlighting what is important and getting the point accross visually. I really liked the revisions. Thanks a ton.
Maya Heissenbuttel
North Pines Middle School
Central Valley School District
Spokane Washington
May 2009 revision of this activity
Mitosis Meiosis different
Here is an article discussing the difference between Mitosis and Meiosis
http://www.differencebetween.net/science/difference-between-mitosis-and-meiosis/
Using sockosomes to assess understanding of mitosis and meiosis
A lively discussion group among Philadelphia high school biology teachers (http://groups.google.com/group/biology-pd/topics) has lots of helpful suggestions, including using sockosomes to have students make a stop-animation movie to demonstrate their understanding of mitosis and meiosis.
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