Some students in Jourdan Bunkley's seventh-grade science class at Stewart Middle School 
tasted bitterness. Others tasted nothing at all.
Students were testing whether they inherited a gene that allows them to taste PTC, a harmless chemical compound used to demonstrate genetic variation.
Each student tested a PTC strip and recorded their results during the PTC taste genetics lab. The combined class data showed that some inherited the ability to taste PTC while others did not.
Bunkley said the lab helped students understand that traits are inherited through genes located on chromosomes and that genetic differences cause variation among individuals.
“The lab made learning personal and engaging because students were investigating their own genetic traits,” she said.
She added that hands-on participation increased curiosity and helped students better remember the concepts. Seeing class data visually also strengthened their understanding of variation and how traits are passed from parents to offspring.
"Students realized that not all traits are influenced by the environment; some are determined by genetic makeup," she said. "They also learned how scientists collect and use data to support explanations about heredity."