Student Resources
Teacher Resources

The Splice of Life:
Genetic Engineering


Research Scenario

Funded by an anonymous billionaire, "Let America Decide" is a new reality television show that lets average Americans determine how huge sums of donated money should be used to help solve some of today's most complex and controversial societal issues. The upcoming segments are dedicated to Genetic Engineering Research.

You are a genetic engineer who is competing for the award money to fund your research. Fascinate your audience with an explanation of how to develop a super-sized eggplant or a seedless watermelon. Educate the public about the new and innovative uses of DNA in forensics. Imagine a world free of many debilitating diseases, where no one will have to wait for an organ transplant. These are some of the many examples you, as a genetic engineer, might wish to include in your presentations as you "Let America Decide."

How can the effects of DNA alteration be beneficial or harmful to the individual, society, and environment?

*Need a "refresher" about DNA and genes? Visit this link for a
genetic tour and view Video Safari playlist.

Task and Product

You are a genetic engineer assigned to one of four teams which are vying for the award money to fund their research. The specialized scientific teams:

  • Criminal Investigator whose interest is in DNA profiling for criminal investigations,
  • Cloning Researcher whose interest is in cloning to create genetically identical tissues for transplantation,
  • Food Biotechnologist whose interest is in genetically-altered foods to improve quality and quantity, or
  • Genetic Researcher whose interest is in gene therapy used in the cure and prevention of diseases.

As a member of one of the four research teams, you will gather information from a variety of sources on your specialty using a graphic organizer to record your findings.

Ultimately, each scientific team will prepare an eight- to ten-minute presentation to share with the "studio audience" (your class) to "showcase" their particular genetic engineering specialty. In order to enlighten the average American television viewer's knowledge of genetic engineering, each oral presentation must include four basic components as they relate to your team's specialty. These components are:

  • a description of the genetic engineering process
  • specific examples of applications of this process in today's society
  • a showcase of the benefits of the process
  • the identification of the drawbacks of the process

Your oral presentation must include one of the following products:

Teacher note: To facilitate the collaborative nature of this project, consider creating a project-based wiki or using another collaborative Web 2.0 tool (VoiceThread, MindMeister, Groupsite.com, etc.) to use as a workspace. For further help/suggestions, see your Library Media Specialist or visit http://bcpslibraryinformationservices.pbworks.com/.
Assessments
 The following scoring tools may be used or adapted by your teacher to evaluate your research process, your final oral presentation, your product, and your brief constructed response.

Research Process Assessments:

Final Product Assessments:
Questions
 Essential Question:

How can the effects of DNA alteration be beneficial or harmful to the individual, society, and environment?

Subsidiary Questions: Unpack Your Thinking

  • What steps and procedures are used in your specific genetic engineering process? Describe them.
  • What are some applications of this process in today's society? Give specific examples.
  • What are some of the benefits of your process?
  • What are some of the harmful effects of your process?
Gather, Sort, and Cite

Use the following resources for gathering information specific to your team:

Gather information from food resources genes resources

Sort your findings using a graphic organizer, note cards, outline, word document, or other form for recording your research.

Cite your sources to avoid plagiarism.

Be sure to apply ethical and responsible use of information and remember to cite your references.

Organize

Analyze your research notes to determine if you have adequate information to determine how the effects of DNA alteration can be be beneficial or harmful to the individual, society, and/or the environment.

Synthesize your findings by creating a first draft of your final product and presentation. Thinking about the implications of your research to the individual and society, begin to prioritize the genetic engineering processes with respect to their overall impact.

  • What beneficial and harmful aspects to society have you discovered about your topic?
  • Which facts are the most compelling and would have the greatest impact on your audience?
  • How has your opinion of genetic engineering changed as a result of your research?

Evaluate the effectiveness of your research for the task and create your final product and presentation.

  • Have you gathered sufficient details about your topic?
  • Have you organized your details in a manner that promotes understanding?
  • Is your research reflected in your product?
Conclusion

Presentation:

Using the information recorded in your graphic organizer, create your oral presentation as well as your choice of visual product listed above. Use the presentation note taking organizer to take notes while you listen to your classmates present their genetic research.


Reflection (BCR):

Using the information gathered from your own research and information obtained from listening to your classmates' presentations, determine which specialty is most deserving of the award funds. Then, write a brief constructed response to explain how you would allocate the award funding if you were a member of the studio audience for "Let America Decide." Be sure to include supporting details and accurate scientific terminology to justify your decision. Additionally, be sure that the concept has been applied to a practical problem or real-world situation.


Extension Activities:

  • Investigate the political ramifications of genetic engineering and create a debate to present the varying viewpoints of the current political figures.

  • Compare and contrast the progress America has made in genetic engineering with progress in other countries. Discuss factors that may have affected the differences in progress.