Cats and Chromosomes Kit

Uncover the mystery of Hemingway's six-toed cats while diving into organism genetics. Cats and Chromosomes can help any young biologist begin their discovery of genetics and unusual traits.

This kit allows your student to grow plants to see how genetics impact growth of organisms for themselves, work through Punnett squares and pedigrees of cats, produce their own Claymation on mitosis, and review the ethical implications of scientific studies.

Cats and Chromosomes is a Launch level kit that includes a full-color student workbook and a detailed teacher guide, with step-by-step instructions for both hands-on and reading-based activities designed to engage students in genetics, unusual organism traits, and mutations. Both teacher and student will be able to open the box and start within minutes, and the kit will provide over 16 hours of engaging learning.

This kit also asexual and sexual reproduction in organisms, as well as techniques related to reproduction and organism traits.

In this kit, the student will partake in the following hands-on learning experiences:

1. Recognize an unusual trait found in some cats.
2. Dive into the basics of genetics with several exercises.
3. Grow plants to observe how genetic and environmental factors impact growth.
4. Create a Claymation describing mitosis.
5. Review a scientific article and determine the ethical implications of the study.

Use Cats and Chromosomes to answer questions such as:

• What is a polydactyl cat?
• Are mutations the result of genetic or environmental factors?
• How are traits passed from parent to offspring?
• What work is being done to advance our understanding of genetics?
• How are ethics relevant to genetic studies?

The Cats and Chromosomes biology curriculum kit is a part of the Science Unlocked Launch series and is recommended for middle and high school students in grades 8-12.

Interested in learning more? Check out our Student Workbook Sample and Teacher Guide Sample!  

More Information

• Safety Information (SDS)

This kit contains:

• 3 Pieces of Cardstock
• 1 Colored Pencils
• 6 foam cups
• 2 Packs of Grass Seeds (Note: Each pack contains a different variety.)
• 1 Marker
• 4 Mini Poker Chips
• 6 Modeling Doughs
• 1 Peat Moss
• 1 Plastic Graduated Cup

• Digital Camera of Smartphone
• Water

• Learning outcome: Uncover the mystery of Hemingway’s six-toed cats while diving into organism genetics.
• NGSS science standards alignment
• HS-LS1-4 Use a model to illustrate the role of cellular division (mitosis) and differentiation in producing and maintaining complex organisms.
• MS-LS1-5 Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how environmental and genetic factors influence the growth of organisms.
• MS-LS3-2 Develop and use a model to describe why asexual reproduction results in offspring with identical genetic information and sexual reproduction results in offspring with genetic variation.
• MS-LS4-5 Gather and synthesize information about the technologies that have changed the way humans influence the inheritance of desired traits in organisms.