Unit 5: Heredity, is where AP Biology starts to feel very real for students…and can feel very heavy for teachers. Between inheritance patterns, probability, and pedigree analysis, this unit asks a lot of everyone! And while hands-on labs are one of the best ways to make genetics stick, the prep, timing, and cleanup can quickly turn your class period into a logistical headache.
It doesn’t have to be that way!
Our Hunting the Inheritance of Huntington’s Disease MiniLab was designed to help students dive into Mendelian genetics without the extra work often required of teachers in other hands-on labs. With this lab kit, students analyze gel electrophoresis results to determine inheritance patterns for Huntington’s disease, a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder that is caused when the neurons (nerve cells) in the brain die. Students get the chance to examine family history to construct a pedigree and will assess molecular data to make predictions about inheritance of the disease in fraternal twins—skills that map directly to AP Bio Unit 5 expectations.
What makes our labs different is that it puts every step of the experiment into the hands of students. Rather than you as the teacher spending class time on tedious setup– prepping gels, staining, and destaining, students take ownership of the lab protocol themselves: pouring and loading their own gels, watching DNA separate in real time, and analyzing the results, all within a classroom period. For teachers, that means streamlined prep, faster cleanup, and more time to teach.
We know teaching AP Biology is no small task. Our goal at MiniOne has always been to make tackling difficult science easier by removing unnecessary barriers with compact, intuitive equipment, reduced prep and clean-up time, and creating engaging storylines that keep kids interested.
If you’re heading into Unit 5: Heredity, and are looking for a lab that reinforces core genetics concepts while respecting your limited time, the Huntington’s Disease MiniLab is built to support both you and your students.
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