Bell Ringer (5 min): Show a photo of a human karyotype. Ask: "What is different about the last pair (Pair 23) in a male vs. a female?"
Direct Instruction (10 min): Explain nondisjunction (chromosomes failing to separate). Do not lecture on every disorder; just explain how the error happens.
The Activity (25 min): Students complete one "Normal" patient and one "Abnormal" patient. Interactive Karyotype Activity
Closure (10 min): "If you were a genetic counselor and saw an extra chromosome on pair #18, what would you tell the parents?" (Answer: Edwards syndrome).
Ready to integrate an interactive karyotype activity into your next genetics unit? Here is a 50-minute lesson plan designed for grades 9-12. Bell Ringer (5 min): Show a photo of a human karyotype
A traditional karyotype lab requires metaphase slides, microscopes, and chemicals. A single broken microscope can derail a lesson. An interactive activity requires only a web browser or tablet. Every student, simultaneously, can analyze a unique patient case file.
Before touching the chromosomes, review the rules of the Karyotype: Closure (10 min): "If you were a genetic
By the end of this activity, participants will be able to: