Asexual vs. Sexual Reproduction Interactive Simulation | Life Science | Grades 6–8

This Interactive Simulation has grades 6–8 Middle School Life Science students run a hands-on classroom model of Asexual vs. Sexual Reproduction.

Driving question: "Why does asexual reproduction result in genetically identical offspring while sexual reproduction produces offspring with wide genetic variation?" Objective: Students will use homologous chromosome allele strips to model asexual reproduction (mitosis) and sexual reproduction (meiosis and random fertilization) across multiple offspring, comparing genotype diversity and survival during an environmental pathogen outbr

What's inside: objective and background, a materials list (1 Parent A Chromosome Envelope…; 1 Parent B Chromosome Envelope…; 1 Mitosis Copying Mat and 1 Meiosis &…; 1 Environmental Pathogen Challenge Die…), an 8-step protocol, a data table, 4 analysis questions, and teacher notes.

Resource type: Interactive Simulation (.docx). Format: editable Microsoft Word lab handout with approximately 930 words (~5 pages).

Classroom use: a team investigation in a Middle School Life Science course. Grades 6–8.

Format note: These files are delivered in Microsoft Office formats (Word and/or PowerPoint). If you open a worksheet that includes tables in Apple Pages or another non-Microsoft app, table formatting may not display correctly. For best results, use Microsoft Word or PowerPoint (or upload the file to Google Docs). If you run into any formatting issues, contact us and we can send a PDF version.