SUPERHERO GENETICS

Vocabulary- Adopted from McGraw-Hill Biology

Allele: form of a gene, represented by a letter (example: R, r)

Genotype: an organism’s allele pair (think of it as a 2-allele

code)

Phenotype: the observable characteristic influenced by the

genotype (the physical result)

Dominant: represented by a capital letter (R). If a genotype is

composed of one or two dominant alleles, the dominant phenotype
results.

Recessive: represented by a lowercase letter (r). A genotype

must be composed of two recessive alleles for the recessive
phenotype to result.

Homozygous: two of the same alleles (RR or rr)

Heterozygous: two different alleles (Rr)

Monohybrid cross: involves only a single trait (example:

determining the genotypes of children whose mother has dimples
and whose father does not have dimples)

Punnett Square: used to predict the possible children genotypes

between two known parent genotypes

Law of Independent Assortment: alleles are distributed randomly

when gametes are made during meiosis. It is up to chance which
particular parental characteristics will occur in each
individual offspring (We will roll a dice to represent chance in
order to identify a genotype in a Punnett Square)
SUPERHERO GENETICS
Part 1: Choose your superhero parents (You can use a
Marvel/DC superhero or invent your own!)
 Select 4 genetic traits: 2 superpowers and 2 fun
details
1. Father: Hulk
a. Has incredible ability to Hulksmash
b. Does not have super reflexes
c. Has brown eyes
d. Has dimples
2. Mother: Black Widow
a. Does not have incredible ability to Hulksmash
b. Super reflexes
c. Has brown eyes
d. Does not have dimples
Part 2: Choose a letter to represent each genetic trait
a. Ability to Hulksmash: H
b. Super Reflexes: R
c. Brown eyes: B
d. Dimples: D
Part 3: Assign a genotype for each genetic trait to each
superparent.
 Remember, if the parent has a phenotype for a dominant
trait, their genotype could be homozygous dominant or
heterozygous. You choose 

Part 4: Complete a Punnett Square for each genetic trait

Part 5: Roll the virtual 4-sided die to identify the

genotype of the baby for each genetic trait:
http://www.roll-dice-online.com/

Part 6: Introduce your new superbaby as a member of the

Avengers/Justice League.

Extra Time? Add more characteristics or identify more

offspring!
SUPERHERO GENETICS
Mom’s alleles go here:

Dad’s alleles go here:

Trait 1: 1 2

Mom’s Genotype:

Dad’s Genotype:
3 4
Baby’s Genotype:

Baby’s Phenotype:

Mom’s alleles go here:

Trait 2:

Mom’s Genotype:

Dad’s Genotype:
Dad’s alleles go here:

1 2
Baby’s Genotype:

Baby’s Phenotype:

3 4
SUPERHERO GENETICS
Mom’s alleles go here:

Dad’s alleles go here:

Trait 3:

Mom’s Genotype: 1 2

Dad’s Genotype:

Baby’s Genotype:

Baby’s Phenotype: 3 4

Mom’s alleles go here:

Trait 4:

Mom’s Genotype:
Dad’s alleles go here:

Dad’s Genotype:
1 2
Baby’s Genotype:

Baby’s Phenotype:

3 4