Teaching Genetic Principles with Dogs

 

A. Daniel Johnson, Sabrina D. Setaro, & Tiffany A. Blackburn

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2014, Volume 35

Abstract

We developed a collection of genetics teaching resources using dogs as a comprehensive model. Dogs are familiar, have traits that can be scored from photos or direct observation, and alleles with varied inheritance patterns. Specific proteins underlying many of their distinctive physical features have been identified, which helps students connect molecules to genotypes and mutations to phenotypes. Instructors can use our existing handouts, problems, and cases, as well as design new genetics problems for their students, then publish their materials in a growing open-source content library and get feedback from other users.

Keywords:  genetics, model organism, dogs, teaching resource

University of Calgary (2013)