Albino Squirrels

These images show an albino squirrel on the trunk of a tree.

Image

Iowa Core Standard

HS-LS3-1

Ask questions to clarify relationships about the role of DNA and chromosomes in coding the instructions for characteristic traits passed from parents to offspring

Driving Question

What causes albinism in organisms?

Probing Questions

Does this trait pass onto each litter of squirrels born? Is there always an albino baby?
What genetic/survival limitations do albino organisms have?

Classroom Suggestions

Student could:

Investigate the commonality of albinism in different species.
Determine which organisms can have albino members of their population and which ones cannot.
Research how albino organisms' lifespan and reproduction (fitness) rates are affected by this genetic alteration.

Resources

Untamed Science | White and Albino Squirrel Research Initiative: This website provides general information on white squirrels.
PBS | The Good Stuff: The Rare Albino Squirrels of Olney, Illinois: Olney is a small midwestern town like any other. Except for its squirrels. For some reason, it has an unusually large population of albino gray squirrels. And the population is in trouble.
PBS LearningMedia | QUEST: Revisiting Albino Redwoods, Biological Mystery: Hidden among the giant redwoods deep in California's redwood forests are small albino redwoods. Very few of these pale, ghostlike trees exist and none grow very large, yet somehow they continue to survive. Explore how albino redwoods differ from regular redwoods as well as information about photosynthesis and genetic diversity among redwood trees.

Contributors

Submitted by Alicia D. Schiller Haynes.

Images by Arie Schiller.

Thumbnail obtained from Wikimedia Commons.