To teach students about genetic differences and inherited traits. Give students control and PTC strips without telling them what the strips are. The ability to taste is dominant and is controlled by a single gene.
Students can also take strips home and test family members.
Then they can make pedigrees of the inheritance of this trait and see its dominant pattern of inheritance. There are also other types of strips available for tasting. The PTC activity can also be used in conjunction with scoring other genetic traits, such as tongue-rolling and widow s peak. After tasting the paper, students can remove the taste of PTC by having a drink of water or sucking on a hard candy. Barb has also used this tool successfully in 5th and 6th grade elementary classes.