Overview
By using case studies of genetically modified (GM) crops bred for disease reduction and weed resistance, students will expand their understanding of GMOs and consider the benefits for feeding future populations. Students will be able to identify inheritance and trait variations after extracting DNA from plant sources and building a model of a DNA helix. The final assessment requires students to consider misconceptions of GMOs and create a compelling marketing piece for the general public. Within the unit, students will be introduced to different professional pathways as they research historical figures and their contributions to global food security.
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Lesson 3
Lesson 4
Lesson 5
Lesson 6
Lesson 7
Curriculum Connections
Next Generation Science Standards
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HS-LS1-1: Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the structure of DNA determines the structure of proteins, which carry out the essential functions of life through systems of specialized cells.
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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.
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HS-LS3-3: Apply concepts of statistics and probability to explain the variation and distribution of expressed traits in a population.
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HS-LS4-3: Apply concepts of statistics and probability to support explanations that organisms with an advantageous heritable trait tend to increase in proportion to organisms lacking this trait.
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HS-ETS1-1: Analyze a major global challenge to specify qualitative and quantitative criteria and constraints for solutions that account for societal needs and wants.
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HS-ETS1-2: Design a solution to a complex real-world problem by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable problems that can be solved through engineering.
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HS-ETS1-3: Evaluate a solution to a complex real-world problem based on prioritized criteria and trade-offs that account for a range of constraints, including cost, safety, reliability, and aesthetics as well as possible social, cultural, and environmental impacts.