Pedigree and risk CER
Students construct a CER linking pedigree evidence to a calculated genetic risk for an offspring.
Written CER with a quantitative genetic-risk claim, pedigree and Punnett square evidence, and at least one stated limitation.
- 1Do thisStudents construct a CER linking pedigree evidence to a calculated genetic risk for an offspring.
- 2Use this resource
- 3Submit thisCER: Written CER with a quantitative genetic-risk claim, pedigree and Punnett square evidence, and at least one stated limitation.
- 4Submit it here
- 1CMSD website. Go to clevelandmetroschools.org and click the Clever button.
- 2Clever. Clever opens. Sign in if it asks.
- 3Microsoft (district) login. Use your district Microsoft account (the one for school).
- 4Schoology. Open Schoology, then your class, then Assignments, and find the file named below.
The file to submit is named: Principles of Biomedical Technology (Principles of Biomedical Science) › Unit 2.2 to 2.3: Chromosomal abnormalities, genetic risk, family evidence, diagnosis from mixed data. › CEROpen Schoology
Read to prepare for today
Vetted sources picked for today's question. Skim these before you take a position or start the work, so your argument and evidence are grounded.
- CER:
- Claim, Evidence, Reasoning — make a claim, back it with evidence, explain your reasoning.
- SOP:
- Standard Operating Procedure — the exact steps to follow (especially in a lab).
- Tracker:
- Your PLTW progress log where you record completed evidence.
- myPLTW:
- The PLTW course site where you do the online activities — you open it through Schoology.
Minute-by-minute · 80-minute block
💡 Big idea: A pedigree is a family data set: when you combine it with a Punnett square you can quantify genetic risk rather than just estimate it.
- 0-8 minWarm-up: draw pedigree symbols for affected male, carrier female, unaffected female.
- 8-25 minBuild the two-generation pedigree from the case history; label carriers.
- 25-40 minTrace inheritance pattern; set up and complete the Punnett square.
- 40-60 minWrite the CER: claim with % risk, pedigree + Punnett square evidence, reasoning.
- 60-72 minAdd one assumption and one limitation to the CER reasoning section.
- 72-80 minPeer review: swap and check that claim is quantitative and evidence is cited.
- • Yesterday you identified a chromosomal abnormality; today you calculate how likely it is to appear in the next generation.
- • Pedigrees and Punnett squares are the two core tools of classical genetics on the WebXam 072110 Biotechnology strand.
- • Your CER today must include a number, a percent risk, not just a direction.
- • Label carriers as well as affected individuals, most families have carriers who never show symptoms.
- 1Build a pedigree from the case history using standard symbols for sex and affected status.
- 2Trace the inheritance pattern and label carriers across two generations.
- 3Use a Punnett square to estimate the probability that the next child is affected.
- 4Write a claim stating the genetic risk for the couple.
- 5Support the claim with pedigree evidence and reasoning that names assumptions and limitations.
- • Calculate offspring risk consistent with the pedigree and inheritance pattern.
- • Write a CER with claim, quantitative evidence, and reasoning that cites at least one limitation.
- • Standard pedigree symbols encode sex, affected status, and carrier status across generations.
- • A Punnett square converts inheritance pattern and parental genotypes into offspring probabilities.
- • A CER requires a quantitative claim, specific pedigree evidence, and a stated assumption or limitation.
Your PLTW work today
Unit 2.2 to 2.3: Chromosomal abnormalities, genetic risk, family evidence, diagnosis from mixed data. · Pedigree and risk CER
Day 4 of this lesson. Open this exact section in myPLTW (reached through Schoology), then do the work below.
Do this: Open myPLTW, find the Lesson 2.2 Decoding a Diagnosis pedigree or genetics-risk activity, and use it to verify your inheritance-pattern determination.
Submit any platform questions related to pedigree reading and Punnett square probability.
You identified the chromosomal abnormality Wednesday. Finish platform questions before moving to CER writing so your pedigree interpretation is grounded in the lesson.
Platform submission plus your handwritten or digital CER serve as dual evidence.
All PLTW activities are completed inside the PLTW course environment — this page only gives direction. Submit producibles on Schoology.
Today's PLTW tracker
Check things off as you work, then submit. This tells Mr. Mendoza how you're doing so he can help the class. It does not replace turning in your producible on Schoology.
Use the code Mr. Mendoza gave you, not your name. Saved on this device.
Unit 2.2 to 2.3: Chromosomal abnormalities, genetic risk, family evidence, diagnosis from mixed data. · Pedigree and risk CER
Open myPLTW, find the Lesson 2.2 Decoding a Diagnosis pedigree or genetics-risk activity, and use it to verify your inheritance-pattern determination.
You identified the chromosomal abnormality Wednesday. Finish platform questions before moving to CER writing so your pedigree interpretation is grounded in the lesson.
This is how Mr. Mendoza sees the class keeping pace with PLTW. Be honest, it only helps if it is accurate.
🎯 Students construct a CER linking pedigree evidence to a calculated genetic risk for an offspring.
- Build a pedigree from the case history using standard symbols for sex and affected status.
- Trace the inheritance pattern and label carriers across two generations.
- Use a Punnett square to estimate the probability that the next child is affected.
- Write a claim stating the genetic risk for the couple.
- Support the claim with pedigree evidence and reasoning that names assumptions and limitations.
CER: Written CER with a quantitative genetic-risk claim, pedigree and Punnett square evidence, and at least one stated limitation.
Submit on SchoologyUpload by 11:29 PM for full credit.
| Task | Who |
|---|---|
| Build a pedigree from the case history using standard symbols for sex and affected status. | _______ |
| Trace the inheritance pattern and label carriers across two generations. | _______ |
| Use a Punnett square to estimate the probability that the next child is affected. | _______ |
| Write a claim stating the genetic risk for the couple. | _______ |
| Support the claim with pedigree evidence and reasoning that names assumptions and limitations. | _______ |
Working solo? Put your own name in "Who" for every row.
- Calculate offspring risk consistent with the pedigree and inheritance pattern.
- Write a CER with claim, quantitative evidence, and reasoning that cites at least one limitation.
Resources & readings
Hand-picked materials for this lesson. Class file items open the document directly; the rest are vetted readings and interactives from other biomedical programs.
WebXam practice
Cumulative WebXam review
A quick mixed-review pulling questions from earlier units plus today, so the WebXam material stays fresh.
Where this leads — careers
What today's skills lead to. These are real health-science careers this course builds toward. Tap one to see, on the US Department of Labor's O*NET site, what the job actually involves, what it pays, and how fast it is growing.
What to do if you were absent
Today is individual PLTW work, so do exactly what we did in class, from home: complete the same PLTW target above, then submit your CER.
Open Schoology (CMSD) and keep goingHow to get there: open the CMSD website, click Clever, sign in with your Microsoft (district) account, then open Schoology from Clever.
Class still runs. Complete the online activity above (it's self-guided). Need the concept taught without a teacher? Use this authoritative explainer:
NHGRI genome.govOptional extra credit (async)
You've passed Unit 2, so the optional extra-credit track is open. Complete reserved-unit work from home (virtual labs included) for extra credit, all submitted on Schoology.
Open the extra-credit track- CompleteEvery required part of the artifact is present, nothing left blank.
- AccurateThe science and the data are correct and match the evidence.
- Scientific reasoningYou explain your claim with evidence and reasoning (CER), not just an answer.
- Professional communicationClear, organized, labeled, and written the way a clinician or scientist would.
- SubmittedTurned in the right way (Schoology for routine work) and confirmed.
Drop your Mon, Oct 26, 2026 · Pedigree and risk CER here. Use a clear file name (your initials + project). Routine work still goes to Schoology (via the CMSD portal).
Upload a project