Gene Rummy: A Card Game about Mendelian Genetics

 

Katrin Becker

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2014, Volume 35

Views: 35 Downloads: 33^a

Abstract

Many people struggle with the fundamental concepts underlying Mendelian genetics. The classic examples are fine, but additional resources can be helpful. Here’s a visual way to learn the jargon and the basic principles of Mendelian inheritance while playing a fast-paced card game using rabbit coat color genetics. Coat color in rabbits demonstrates dominance/recessive traits, differences in pheno- vs. genotypes, epistasis, and multiple alleles — all of which blend together to form the color we see. This workshop is a demonstration of our prototype card game and participants will have an opportunity to examine the cards, see how the games are played and try a few hands themselves.

Keywords:  phenotype, genotype, Mendelian genetics

University of Calgary (2013)

^aAs of September 1, 2026