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Cool Tool: Encyclopedia Analogy Type: Analogy Topic: The Difference Between a Gene, a Chromosome, and a Genome Grade Level: Middle school, high school Contributor: Susie Ball School: Pacific Northwest Regional Genetics Group Purpose: To help students understand the difference between genes, chromosomes, and genomes. Materials: None Methods: Clearly distinguish between genes, chromosomes, and genomes by using the following analogy: A set of encyclopedias is like all the chromosomes in your cells. All together, the set is called your genome. Each volume is one chromosome. Each article is one gene. The genes (articles) in a chromosome (volume) are not necessarily there because they are related in some way. For example, the articles on different fruits are not all contained in the same volume; banana is in volume B, mango is in volume M, etc. Checking the chromosome (volume) will not tell you if there is a mutation in a gene. To detect a mutation, you need to read the article carefully (sequence the gene), looking for any typographical or spelling errors. Classroom Use: GEP Staff have used this analogy with great success when providing professional development for elementary school teachers.
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