Genes and Traits Science Games

4 games

In this series of games, your students will learn about DNA, mutations, and heredity. The Genes and Traits learning objective— based on NGSS and state standards — delivers improved student engagement and academic performance in your classroom, as demonstrated by research.

Scroll down for a preview of this learning objective’s games and the concepts they drive home.

Concepts Covered

The genetic blueprint of all living things is contained in DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid. DNA comes in double helix-shaped strands, made up of pairs of nitrogen bases. The four bases are adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine.

Sections of DNA contain the code for specific proteins. Each section is called a gene, and large groups of genes form chromosomes. Humans have 46 chromosomes in 23 pairs. In reproduction, each parent contributes one chromosome from each pair to their offspring.

Chromosomes that have the same type of gene in the same place are called homologous chromosomes. The corresponding genes, called alleles, can be slightly different even between homologous chromosomes.

When DNA replicates itself, it sometimes does an imperfect job, causing mutations. Since DNA codes for the creation of proteins, these mutations can affect how proteins are made, which in turn affects how traits are expressed in an organism. Mutations can either be neutral, beneficial, or harmful to an organism’s ability to survive.

A preview of each game in the learning objective is found below.

You can access all of the games on Legends of Learning for free, forever, with a teacher account. A free teacher account also allows you to create playlists of games and assignments for students and track class progress. Sign up for free today!

Image for Compare Two Numbers
Compare Two Numbers Estimated Duration: 4 minutes Compare Two Numbers
Image for Fishing Numbers
Fishing Numbers Estimated Duration: 9 minutes Travel to the Great Lake, filled with plenty of different sized fish, and work with the greatest fisher mathling to catch a good haul of fish! However, he wants the correct amount of fish that have the correct numbers on them, as they are precious for his business. Learn to identify which number is greater or smaller than the other.
Image for Number Compare - Compare
Number Compare - Compare Estimated Duration: 10 minutes Create meaning of greater than, less than, and equal to by moving objects into two independent play areas and watching the graph in the middle update in real time. Choose between a bar graph and a number line, and hear the comparison statement read out loud in English and another language of your choice.
Image for Number Compare - Lab
Number Compare - Lab Estimated Duration: 10 minutes Use this interactive whiteboard to create addition, subtraction, or comparison problems without feedback. Organize objects into ten-frames to visually compare which has more, or whether the number of objects are equal. Be creative in how subtraction is modeled.
Image for Magical Forest Deluxe
Magical Forest Deluxe Estimated Duration: 15 minutes Find yourself in a magical forest full of treasures and adventures. Collect coins and berries, answer questions, earn points! Good luck!
Image for Robot Chef
Robot Chef Estimated Duration: 18 minutes Congratulations, you are creating the first all-robot restaurant in the city! As you serve more customers, you will be able to build more robots to assist in delivering tasty treats. Attend Night School and answer questions to earn advanced robot chefs!
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