University of Illinois Extension
4-H School Enrichment Programs
Rock Island County

Growing Better Every Day: Using Genetics to Improve Agriculture

Colored paper clips are used to illustrate genes and chromosome chains as students learn how traits are inherited by offspring from parents. A germination study of seeds which produce albino or normal green corn plants helps students understand genotypes and phenotypes. Students learn about probabilities of transmission of two genes from parent to offspring. Within these activities, students will:

  • Learn terminology of genetics
  • Discover how traits are inherited
  • Create a chromosomal pair
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign College of Agricultural Consumer & Environmental Sciences University of Illinois Extension