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Making biology count: integrating mathematics into the teaching of inheritance
In this paper, I explore how seamless embedding of four mathematical concepts: counting, ratio, distribution, and statistical significance, into a unit on inheritance enables students to gain a deeper insight into biological phenomena than a qualitative only approach achieves. The topic of Mendelian inheritance is used to illustrate this proposal. An introductory activity is presented that separates the specialized genetics vocabulary from the inheritance process, allowing the initial mathematical relationship to be developed and subsequently followed by the language requirements.
History
Publication title
Journal of Biological EducationVolume
52Pagination
92-97ISSN
0021-9266Department/School
Faculty of EducationPublisher
Inst BiologyPlace of publication
20 Queensberry Place, London, England, Sw7 2DzRights statement
Copyright 2018 Royal Society of Biology. This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis Group in Journal of Biological Education on 7/02/2018, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/00219266.2018.1427613Repository Status
- Restricted