If you could genetically engineer any species of organism, what would it be? Would it be a unicorn? A dog-cat hybrid? Your own personal pet giant? Choose any species—real or not—that your imagination desires! Part 1
Write a paragraph describing your species, what it looks like, and where it lives. Think of any inherited traits the species has that might help it survive in its environment. Thinking of these traits now can help you come up with allele combinations in the next step. Now describe your species in the answer space.

PART 2
You will use Punnett squares to predict the probability that two parents of your species will pass a particular trait to their offspring. Each parent has two alleles for a particular gene, one on each homologous chromosome.

To prepare to make the Punnett squares, write down the genotypes of the parents for the three traits you’ll be predicting.

Example:

Mother: YyIRiPF
Father: YyIWiPF

Now fill in three Punnett squares, one for each trait.

Mother alleles , trait : M , m
Father allleles , trait : M, m

Part 3 Evaluate the possible genotypes the offspring could inherit for traits 1, 2, and 3. Use percentages to explain the probability that an offspring will inherit each possible genotype.

Would any of these genotypes affect your species’ survival in its natural habitat? Explain why or why not.

Part 4
Use your Punnett squares to explain why traits that aren’t present in either parent could show up in the offspring or in future generations of the offspring.