Mendelian genetics can be tricky for high school students. There are some common misunderstandings that might confuse them. Here are a few big ones:

1. Simple Dominance:

   • A lot of students think that if a trait is dominant, it always shows up instead of a recessive trait.
   • They often forget about things like incomplete dominance and codominance.
   • Because of this, they don’t fully understand how inheritance can work in more complicated ways.

2. Punnett Squares:

   • Some students depend too much on Punnett squares.
   • They think these squares show all possible outcomes without realizing they just show probabilities, not certainties.
   • The actual ratios of genotypes can be different from what they expect due to factors like independent assortment or linked genes.

3. Genotype vs. Phenotype:

   • Many students get confused between genotype (the actual genes) and phenotype (the traits we can see).
   • This mix-up can lead them to make wrong guesses about how traits are passed down.

To help students overcome these confusions, teachers can try some different methods:

• Use Interactive Models:

  • Engage students in fun, hands-on activities to show how traits are inherited in ways beyond just dominance.

• Real-World Examples:

  • Share real-life stories that show exceptions to the rules of Mendelian genetics.

• Encourage Critical Thinking:

  • Give students problem-solving tasks that make them think deeper about genetic ideas.

By using these approaches, students can get a clearer and more accurate understanding of Mendelian genetics.