Journal of Biological Education
By Machová, Markéta &Ehler, Edvard
“Secondary school students’ misconceptions in genetics: origins and solutions”
Publisher:
Pp. 1-14
2021
Secondary school students’ misconceptions in genetics: origins and solutions
Type: Empirical
Data collection method: Test
Number of subjects, range: Large — 31 or more
Grade and age of subjects: 6th-8th grade — 12-14 years, 9th-12 grade — 15-18 years
Grade 7 students’ misconceptions
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DNA contains information about one’s body.
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Chromosome is something carrying information inside a DNA.
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Genes form chromosomes.
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Genes show the characteristics or traits of a person.
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DNA determines person traits.
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DNA is a test. It helps identify paternity hood and family relations
Grade 8 students’ misconceptions
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DNA is used to identify the identity of individual.
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Genes determine eye color, body form.
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My brain determines my traits.
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My height is determined by glands.
- DNA is a structure in the cell. It helps us determine blood group.
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Different DNA determines different traits.
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Chromosomes mean abnormalities.
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DNA helps show relation with relatives.
Grade 9 students’ misconceptions
- DNA is a test
- Chromosomes and karyotype determine my traits.
- Karyotype is used to determine whether we look like our mother or father.
- Alleles are inside genes.
- DNA is a blood test to detect parenthood.
- Different traits are determined by different alleles.
- A gene is found on a chromosome and carries information.
- Genes determine traits & DNA determines identity.
- Each cell exists in a location that changes its function.
- Finger print is part of skin.
Grade 10 students’ misconceptions
- Gene is one pair of chromosome, while DNA is all the chromosome.
- Chromosomes carry DNA & Genes hold alleles.
- DNA is the test used to determine paternity hood and relationship.
- Height is inherited from my father.
- DNA is a sequence of genes.
- DNA is information from parents.
- Gene is a trait found on a chromosome and chromosomes make DNA
Grade 11 students’ misconceptions
- DNA is a double helix containing nucleotides coiled around an axis of chromosomes.
- Gene is a segment of DNA.
- Chromosomes hold the genes and DNA holds specific characteristics.
- Each chromosome codes for one molecule of DNA.
- DNA is a section of chromosome. A gene is the trait on chromosome and it’s a DNA segment.
- DNA is a protein and chromosomes are made up of DNA.
- DNA is a small part of chromosomes and gene is part of DNA.
- Genes make DNA, DNA makes proteins and proteins form the genotype and the genotype determines phenotype.
- DNA is found in the gene.
- Gene is inside chromosome, DNA is inside gene and alleles are formed of gene.
- DNA is a protein and DNA identifies pedigrees.
Grade 12 students’ misconceptions
- Genes make up DNA and DNA makes chromosomes.
- Gene is part of DNA and DNA is part of chromosome.