Waverly School’s Middle School Science Students Study Genetics

Article and Photo courtesy of THE WAVERLY SCHOOL FEBRUARY 8, 2016

The Waverly School’s middle school science students began their study of genetics by investigating traits for six human characteristics: eye color, tongue rolling, finger crossing, height (in cm), arm span (in cm), and PTC tasting. Of the six traits investigated, the only one that is relatively easy to determine and based on simple, one-gene Mendelian inheritance patterns is the ability to taste PTC. PTC is a chemical called phenylthiocarbamide. The PTC papers have a very small amount of this chemical, and the majority of students can taste PTC, including 7th grader Frankie in the photo above.