HS-LS3-3 | Genetics and Probability · NYS standard · Regents questions
Apply concepts of statistics and probability to explain the variation and distribution of expressed traits in a population.
Clarification statement: Emphasis is on the use of mathematics to describe the probability of traits as it relates to genetic and environmental factors in the expression of traits.
Assessment boundary: Assessment does not include Hardy-Weinberg calculations.
Regents Exam Questions
Released New York State Regents exam questions that assess HS-LS3-3 are listed here by exam and question cluster. Each link opens the question with its answer key.
Vocabulary
Terms from the Biology Glossary that come from this standard or from the released exam questions that assess it.
- correlation (versus cause)
- environmental factor
- expressed trait
- inheritance pattern
- population
- probability
- proportion
- statistics
- trait
- trait distribution
- variability
- variation
- antibody – Jan 2026
- antigen – Jan 2026
- bacteria – Jan 2026
- bind (to a receptor) – Jan 2026
- breeding – Jan 2026
- cell – Jan 2026
- claim – Jan 2026
- dominant allele – Aug 2025
- frequency – Jan 2026, Aug 2025
- generation – Jan 2026
- genetic diversity – Jan 2026
- habitat – Jan 2026
- human activity – Jan 2026
- investigation – Jan 2026
- isolation (of populations) – Jan 2026
- larva – Jan 2026
- mortality – Jan 2026
- pesticide – Jan 2026
- protein – Jan 2026
- resistance (to a pesticide or treatment) – Jan 2026
- salivary gland – Jan 2026
- sample size – Aug 2025
- species – Jan 2026
- toxin – Jan 2026
- trend – Aug 2025
Performance Level Descriptions
Every Regents exam question on HS-LS3-3 is written to match one of the performance level descriptions (PLDs) below.
Resources
Examples and discussion of resources for the learning, teaching, and assessment of HS-LS3-3.
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NGSS Dimensions
Performance expectation HS-LS3-3 was developed using the following elements from the NRC document A Framework for K-12 Science Education:
- Analyzing and Interpreting Data
- Apply concepts of statistics and probability (including determining function fits to data, slope, intercept, and correlation coefficients for linear fits) to scientific and engineering questions and problems, using digital tools when feasible.
- LS3.B: Variation of Traits
- Environmental factors also affect expression of traits, and hence affect the probability of occurrences of traits in a population. Thus the variation and distribution of traits observed depends on both genetic and environmental factors.
- Scale, Proportion, and Quantity
- Algebraic thinking is used to examine scientific data and predict the effect of a change in one variable on another (e.g., linear growth vs. exponential growth).