Storyline Narrative 7.4.4
Standard 7.4.4: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the technologies that have changed the way humans affect the inheritance of desired traits in organisms. Analyze data from tests or simulations to determine the best solution to achieve success in cultivating selected desired traits in organisms. Examples could include artificial selection, genetic modification, animal husbandry, and gene therapy.
Student Friendly Objective: I can show how technology is being used to choose traits to solve problems.
Anchor Phenomenon: Why have dogs of the same breed look so different than they did 100 years ago?
Big Idea: Humans use technologies to select desired traits in organisms.
Students become engaged in this topic by observing photographs of several breeds of dogs from the early 1900’s compared with their present counterparts. After students compare and contrast each breed of dog, they construct explanations for why there are some marked differences between dogs of the same breed with just one hundred years difference between them. Once students pinpoint humans as the cause of the change, they will offer explanations for why humans would select such traits.
As an extension to this topic, students will explore other organisms humans have selectively bred. After researching and obtaining information about one organism, students will teach other students in their group about what they have learned, specifically how it has changed over time and how the changes have affected the organism as well as human society.
Next, students will conduct further research to explain how humans have used transgenic technology to further influence the traits of other organisms in order to solve problems in human society. After obtaining information, students evaluate the information to see how the change affects the organism and why it would help humans, and then communicate this information to the class through poster displays.
To elaborate on what they know, students will obtain information about CRISPR by reading selected passages of articles and identify the pros and cons of using this technology.
Finally, students will evaluate the effect humans have on the genetic traits of organisms using various technologies as they write an expository essay and an argumentative essay. Students will use the information they have obtained through these episodes to communicate their understanding on this topic.
Episode 1
Question
Why have dogs changed so much over time?
Snapshot
Students look at pictures of different dog breeds from one hundred years apart to see how the breed has changed over time
Conceptual Understandings
Humans can and have influenced the traits of dogs
How have humans changed other organisms?
Conceptual Understandings
Humans have influenced the traits of other organisms through selective breeding
In what other ways have humans changed the traits of organisms?
Snapshot
Students participate in the jigsaw strategy to see how humans have selectively bred different organisms
Episode 2
Question
How have humans changed other organisms?
Conceptual Understandings
Humans can insert genes from particular organisms into other, unrelated organisms
Are there even newer technologies that humans use to change the DNA of organisms?
Snapshot
Students learn about technology that allows humans to insert genes from one organism into another.
Episode 3
Question
In what other ways have humans changed the traits of organisms?
Episode 4
Question
What is the newest technology to alter DNA?
Snapshot
Students learn about CRISPR and how it allows humans to edit DNA
Conceptual Understandings
Humans can use the CRISPR technology to edit DNA