What would the offspring of Wolverine & Wonder Woman be like? Or what if the super villain Doctor Octopus and the super hero Phoenix (Jean Grey) had children, what would they be like? In this project, you will have the chance to find out.

There are over 490 different superheroes and Supervillans that could produce children. You will be creating your own Superhero Baby from two randomly selected Superheroes/Supervillans.

OBJECTIVE

Students will design a new superhero using their understanding of genotypes, Punnett squares and probability.

Materials: Data Sheets, Superhero Mom & Dad Info, Superhero Characteristics Chart, 4 Pennies

Computer paper or small poster paper

Directions:

1.  You will receive a pair of Superhero/ Supervillans. If you want to see pictures of mom and dad, visit the following websites: http://www.superherodb.com/characters/ or http://marvel.com/universe/index.htm

You will also be able to read the back-story on each character on these sites.

2.  Fill out the Superhero Parent Data Sheet.

3.  Make a Punnett Square for each trait. This means you have to complete 19 Punnett Squares!!!

4.  To determine what genotype the offspring will have, flip four pennies at the same time.

**The box you have from your flips will be the same choice for every trait.

5.  Then fill out the Superbaby Chart.

6.  Create a picture of the offspring along with a short paragraph about this new superhero or villain.

THIS IS A BIG PROJECT. WE WILL GET IT STARTED IN CLASS BUT IT IS UP TO YOU TO FINISH IT BY YOUR DUE DATE. IF YOU NEED HELP, I AM AVAIALABLE BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL. IT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ASK FOR HELP. NO EXTENSIONS WILL BE GIVEN WITHOUT A WRITTEN EXPLAINATION FROM A PARENT OR GUARDIAN.

PROJECT DUE DATE: ______

PARENT DATA SHEET-Give the name of each parent. Then, in each box, write the genotype and phenotype for each trait

Trait / Mom / Dad
Name
Gender / XX-female / XY-male
Eye Color
Height
Vision
Fur
Flight
Wings
Hands
Stretchy
Invisibility
Weather Control
Super Jump
Strength
Hair Color
Electricity
Force Field
Water Breathing
Healing
Super Speed
Alignment

STEP 2: PUNNETT SQUARES

Now it’s time for the hero’s to have kids. To do this you are going to have to create a Punnett square for every single trait that you have listed for your heroes. I have started the first one for you. You will need to complete the remaining squares provided for all the other traits. Make sure to give me all the information as you see it below. I suggest you complete two or three each day to stay ahead of schedule.

Gender / X / X
X
Y
Phenotypes:
Phenotype Percentage:
Genotypes:
Genotype Prob: ____:_____:_____ / Eye Color
Phenotypes:
Phenotype Percentage:
Genotypes:
Genotype Prob: ____:_____:_____ / Height
Phenotypes:
Phenotype Percentage:
Genotypes:
Genotype Prob: ____:_____:_____
Vision
Phenotypes:
Phenotype Percentage:
Genotypes:
Genotype Prob: ____:_____:_____ / Fur
Phenotypes:
Phenotype Percentage:
Genotypes:
Genotype Prob: ____:_____:_____ / Flight
Phenotypes:
Phenotype Percentage:
Genotypes:
Genotype Prob: ____:_____:_____
Wings
Phenotypes:
Phenotype Percentage:
Genotypes:
Genotype Prob: ____:_____:_____ / Hands
Phenotypes:
Phenotype Percentage:
Genotypes:
Genotype Prob: ____:_____:_____ / Stretchy
Phenotypes:
Phenotype Percentage:
Genotypes:
Genotype Prob: ____:_____:_____
Invisibility
Phenotypes:
Phenotype Percentage:
Genotypes:
Genotype Prob: ____:_____:_____ / Weather Control
Phenotypes:
Phenotype Percentage:
Genotypes:
Genotype Prob: ____:_____:_____ / Super Jump
Phenotypes:
Phenotype Percentage:
Genotypes:
Genotype Prob: ____:_____:_____
Strength
Phenotypes:
Phenotype Percentage:
Genotypes:
Genotype Prob: ____:_____:_____ / Hair Color
Phenotypes:
Phenotype Percentage:
Genotypes:
Genotype Prob: ____:_____:_____ / Electricity
Phenotypes:
Phenotype Percentage:
Genotypes:
Genotype Prob: ____:_____:_____
Force Field
Phenotypes:
Phenotype Percentage:
Genotypes:
Genotype Prob: ____:_____:_____ / Water Breathing
Phenotypes:
Phenotype Percentage:
Genotypes:
Genotype Prob: ____:_____:_____ / Healing
Phenotypes:
Phenotype Percentage:
Genotypes:
Genotype Prob: ____:_____:_____
Super Speed
Phenotypes:
Phenotype Percentage:
Genotypes:
Genotype Prob: ____:_____:_____ / Alignment
Phenotypes:
Phenotype Percentage:
Genotypes:
Genotype Prob: ____:_____:_____

STEP 3: Offspring Genotype Flip

·  Flip 4 pennies at the same time.

·  Record Results:

Penny 1:_____ Penny 2:_____ Penny 3:______Penny 4:_____

·  Each Punnett Square box corresponds to a certain result. You will use the genotype found in the box that matches your result for EACH TRAIT.

Box 1=HHHH (4 heads)

Box 2=TTHH (2 tails 2 heads)

Box 3= TTTH or HHHT

Box 4=TTTT (4 tails)

For example: If I flipped 3 heads and one tail. I would choose the genotype found in box 3 from EVERY Punnett Square I completed.

The box # I will be using is ______.

STEP 4: Complete the Superhero Baby Sheet

Trait / Genotype / Phenotype
Gender
Eye Color
Height
Vision
Fur
Flight
Wings
Hands
Stretchy
Invisibility
Weather Control
Super Jump
Strength
Hair Color
Electricity
Force Field
Water Breathing
Healing
Super Speed
Alignment

STEP 5: Super Hero Baby Picture

ON A SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER

Now comes the fun part. You need to create a visual representation of your Superhero Baby that displays the traits received from the table above. Please be as neat as possible.

Step 6: Analysis

1.  Define heterozygous.

2.  Which Superbaby traits are heterozygous?

3.  Define homozygous.

4.  Which Superbaby traits are homozygous dominant?

5.  Which Superbaby traits are homozygous recessive?

6.  Invent a new super trait for your baby not found in the parents. Explain in detail how this super trait works, and why you chose this trait. Also explain how it might be possible for a trait not found in the parents could show up in their offspring. For extra credit, include this trait in your Superhero Baby diagram.

The Superhero Project Rubric

Complete the following checklist:

______Parent Data Sheet ______/4

______Punnett Squares ______/20

______Offspring Genotype Flip ______/1

______Superhero Baby Data Sheet ______/4

______Superhero Baby Illustration

______Gender is appropriately represented (1)

______All other visible traits are represented (5)

_____Color is used (3)

_____Illustration is neat (5)

______/5

______Analysis ______/2

FINAL TOTAL______/50

Adapted by Elizabeth L. Bartimus, Johns Hill Magnet school, Decatur IL from original by Robin Lady, Neelyville and Naylor Schools, Neelyville, MO