Students construct paper recombinant plasmids to simulate the methods genetic engineers use to create modified bacteria. They learn what role enzymes, DNA and genes play in the modification of organisms. For the particular model they work on, they isolate a mammal insulin gene and combine it with a bacteria's gene sequence (plasmid DNA) for production of the protein insulin.

I created this assessment to end our genetics unit. This assessment allowed students to apply the knowledge they had gained throughout the unit. It connects to the 21st Century C's by encouraging critical thinking (for example one student further investigated her own colourblindess), it encouraged development of literacy skills as the students researched complex disorders on their own and provided a framework for communication and technology skills through the presentation. I presented this assessment using a Still Alice hook - "If your mother was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's would you take the test". I think this encouraged students to select a disorder/genetic issue based on their own interests and perhaps a genetic disorder in their family. Allowing the students to also use pharmaceutical and agriculture genetic cases created a broader focus enhancing the diversity of presentations.

Established Goals:

Students will…..

Foundational Learning Objective 3.2 (discussing examples of current uses of DNA in agriculture and pharmaceutical industries)

Foundational Learning Objective 2.9 (Discuss several human genetic disorders)

Foundational Learning Objective 3.3 (discuss the techniques of genetic screening).

This 18-minute video lesson looks at the the vocabulary of DNA: chromosomes, chromatids, chromatin, transcription, translation, and replication. [Biology playlist: Lesson 8 of 71].

This 28-minute video lesson provides an introduction to DNA. [Biology playlist: Lesson 6 of 71].

Students will be able to understand how heredity affects agricultural decisions regarding wanted traits in animals, and will understand that DNA contains genes which carry traits from generation to generation.

DNA. It's what makes you unique. Unless you have an identical twin, your DNA is different from that of every other person in the world. And that's what makes DNA fingerprinting possible. Experts can use DNA fingerprints for everything from determining a biological mother or father to identifying the suspect of a crime. What, then, is a DNA fingerprint and how is it made? Here, you'll find out by solving a mystery—a crime of sorts. First, you'll create a DNA fingerprint (we'll supply the lab and all necessary materials). Then you'll compare this DNA fingerprint to those of all seven suspects to nab the perpetrator. Ready? Let's get to work!

Crime Scene features fictional crime cases in a unique combination of interactive fiction and gaming.

Each week, Yoknapatawpha County detectives post evidence from the current case.

You are invited to participate in the investigation by reviewing the presented evidence and offering your theories and questions to the detectives and other web sleuths.

Students reinforce their knowledge that DNA is the genetic material for all living things by modeling it using toothpicks and gumdrops that represent the four biochemicals (adenine, thiamine, guanine, and cytosine) that pair with each other in a specific pattern, making a double helix. They investigate specific DNA sequences that code for certain physical characteristics such as eye and hair color. Student teams trade DNA "strands" and de-code the genetic sequences to determine the physical characteristics (phenotype) displayed by the strands (genotype) from other groups. Students extend their knowledge to learn about DNA fingerprinting and recognizing DNA alterations that may result in genetic disorders.

Students perform DNA forensics using food coloring to enhance their understanding of DNA fingerprinting, restriction enzymes, genotyping and DNA gel electrophoresis. They place small drops of different food coloring ("water-based paint") on strips of filter paper and then place one paper strip end in water. As water travels along the paper strips, students observe the pigments that compose the paint decompose into their color components. This is an example of the chromatography concept applied to DNA forensics, with the pigments in the paint that define the color being analogous to DNA fragments of different lengths.

Hank imagines himself breaking into the Hot Pockets factory to steal their secret recipes and instruction manuals in order to help us understand how the processes known as DNA transcription and translation allow our cells to build proteins.

Your body is made of cells -- but how does a single cell know to become part of your nose, instead of your toes? The answer is in your body's instruction book: DNA. Joe Hanson compares DNA to detailed manual for building a person out of cells -- with 46 chapters (chromosomes) and hundreds of thousands of pages covering every part of you.

Use the controls to explore this fragment of a much longer DNA strand. Can you find the four different base pairs that DNA is constructed from?

As a class, students work through an example showing how DNA provides the "recipe" for making our body proteins. They see how the pattern of nucleotide bases (adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine) forms the double helix ladder shape of DNA, and serves as the code for the steps required to make genes. They also learn some ways that engineers and scientists are applying their understanding of DNA in our world.

In Lesson 1, students learn about what DNA is and several different DNA typing techniques. In Lesson 2, students examine three different situations where DNA typing was used to carry out justice. Students also identify and evaluate different uses of DNA typing techniques and its possible benefits and misuses.

In this activity, students learn about the collection and processing of DNA evidence and use DNA profiling to solve a crime. The activity is designed for use on an interactive whiteboard with the whole class, and it can also be used individually or in small groups at a computer or with a data projector and laptop.

By the end of this activity, students should be able to:

describe where DNA is found in the body and how DNA may be ‘left behind’ at a crime scene
describe the basic structure of DNA
explain the process of DNA profiling

Explore how the code embedded in DNA is translated into a protein. Click Transcribe to zoom into the cell nucleus and see the chromosome unravel to expose the strands of DNA. The DNA separates and an mRNA strand is created by matching complementary nucleotides. Click Translate to watch the mRNA leave the nucleus for the cytoplasm and attach to a ribosome. tRNA molecules bring in amino acids and the amino acids are added in the correct order by matching complementary nucleotides. After translation, inspect the protein to see how the amino acid sequence folded.

After watching video clips from the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire movie, students explore the use of Punnett squares to predict genetic trait inheritance. The objective of this lesson is to articulate concepts related to genetics through direct immersive interaction based on the theme, The Science Behind Harry Potter. Students' interest is piqued by the use of popular culture in the classroom.