• About us
  • Contact us
logotype
Search:
Text
  • Home
  • Primary
  • Secondary
  • Students
  • Library
  • Associates
secondary
  • Home
  • Primary
  • Secondary
  • Students
  • Library
  • Associates
  • Teaching Resources
  • Key Themes
  • Science Clubs
  • Biology News
  • Specifications
  • CPD
Free resources by e-mail
  • Home>
  • Secondary>
  • Teaching Resources>
  • Video clip - Variation, inheritance and the work of Mendel

Video clip - Variation, inheritance and the work of Mendel

 

 See this on the BBC Four Botany: A Blooming History for a clearer picture when using with students.

This video clip from the BBC (from the TV series Botany: A Blooming History) introduces the ideas of inheritance of characteristics, with a discussion of Mendel's research into patterns of inheritance in pea plants.

The vast range of diversity of form and function in the plant kingdom was a major puzzle for 19th century botanists and continues to be important for modern day geneticists. Variation is observed in all species and offspring have a unique combination of the characteristics inherited from their parents. Since Darwin, biologists have studied the way that the characteristics are passed on. In 1866, Gregor Mendel published work on patterns of inheritance in pea plants. He bred many generations of plants and noted the ratios of inherited characteristics. This new and very scientific approach generated patterns in the ratios which no-one had seen before. Unfortunately, at the time his work was not understood and its importance was not appreciated.

Use to introduce a lesson on the history of science and ideas. Introduce the ideas of inheritance of characteristics and lead into a discussion of the characteristics which Mendel studied and the ratios he established. Students could do similar breeding experiments with tomatoes or rapid cycling brassicas. Other interesting activities include observation of variety in humans, apples, roses, fish etc. From this point, it is also possible to look at the mendelian ratios and the mechanisms of inheritance which he proposed.

 

 

Tags: 11 -14 (KS3), 14 -16 (KS4), Post 16, Inheritance and genetics, Video

Download Resources

There are currently no resources associated with this article - perhaps you could suggest one

Filter secondary resources by...

Filter results by type:
Category
Text

Related resources

  • Selective Breeding and Genetic Engineering
  • Video clip - Vavilov and the establishment of the first seed banks
  • Video clip - The discovery of gene switches in maize
  • Video clip - Classification techniques and the search for useful plants
  • Video clip - Thomas Fairchild, speciation and evolution
  • RSS
  • Share
  • Follow Us
Primary
  • Teaching Resources
  • Beyond the Classroom
  • Hints & Tips
Secondary
  • Teaching Resources
  • Science Clubs
  • Key Themes
  • Biology News
  • Specifications
Students
Library
  • Image Library
  • Links
Legal & Other
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Health and Safety
  • Accessibillity
  • Cookie policy

© 2021 Science & Plants for Schools

Free SAPS newsletter by e-mail

notepad Sign up now