MS-LS4-5: Genetic Engineering

MS-LS4-5
Genetic Engineering

Middle School

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Learning Objectives

• Define artificial selection and distinguish it from the process of natural selection.

• Describe how humans use selective breeding to influence the inheritance of desired traits.

• Explain how genetic modification and gene therapy can alter genetic outcomes in organisms.

• Analyze how technology increases the chance of inheriting certain desired traits.

• Evaluate the overall impact that these powerful technologies have on our society.

Key Vocabulary

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Artificial Selection

The process of humans breeding organisms together to produce a specific and desirable trait.

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Natural Selection

The process where organisms with favorable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce.

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Genetic Variation

The wide variety and differences of genes that are present within a single population.

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Adaptation

The process by which a population of organisms becomes better suited to its environment.

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Trait

A specific and observable characteristic of an organism, such as eye color or height.

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Extinction

The complete and permanent dying out of an entire species from the planet Earth.

Key Vocabulary

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Selective Breeding

This is a form of artificial selection where humans choose organisms with desired traits to reproduce.

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Genetic Modification

The process of altering an organism's DNA by adding or removing a gene to produce desired characteristics.

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Gene Therapy

An advanced technique for treating diseases by correcting or replacing faulty genes in a person's cells.

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Animal Husbandry

The science of breeding, feeding, and taking care of farm animals such as cattle, sheep, and poultry.

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What is Artificial Selection?

• Artificial selection is when humans breed plants or animals for specific desired traits.

• This process is also known as selective breeding.

• All dog breeds came from humans selectively breeding wolves over time.

• Crops like corn are bred for larger yields and disease resistance.

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Multiple Choice

Which statement best defines artificial selection?

• A process where humans breed organisms for specific, desired traits.

• A process where animals naturally adapt to their environment over time.

• A process where plants randomly develop new features to survive.

• A process where organisms change their behavior to find food.

Multiple Choice

Based on the examples of dog breeds and corn, what is the primary reason humans use selective breeding?

• To create a wider variety of wild animals.

• To help organisms survive better in the wild.

• To produce organisms with characteristics that are beneficial to humans.

• To study the natural evolution of wolves and wild grasses.

Multiple Choice

A dairy farmer wants to increase the milk production of her herd over time. How could the farmer apply the principles of artificial selection to achieve this goal?

• The farmer should select and breed the cows that produce the most milk.

• The farmer should feed all the cows a different type of food.

• The farmer should allow the cows to breed randomly with each other.

• The farmer should cross-breed the dairy cows with a different species.

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What is Natural Selection?

• Organisms with traits suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.

• These advantageous traits are then passed on to their offspring through their genes.

• Genetic variation is essential, providing the differences for nature to select from.

• This entire process results in the adaptation of a population over many generations.

Multiple Choice

Which statement best describes the process of natural selection?

• Organisms with traits suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.

• Organisms can choose to change their traits to better fit their environment.

• All offspring from a parent will have the exact same traits.

• The environment changes to better suit the organisms living in it.

Multiple Choice

What is the role of genetic variation in the process of natural selection?

• It ensures that all organisms in a population are exactly the same.

• It provides the differences in traits upon which natural selection can act.

• It allows individual organisms to change their genes whenever they need to.

• It causes the environment to change, forcing organisms to adapt.

Multiple Choice

A population of lizards has varying skin colors due to genetic differences. They live in a desert with light-brown sand. If a volcanic eruption covers the area with dark black rock, what is the most likely long-term outcome for the lizard population?

• The entire lizard population would quickly go extinct.

• The lizards with darker skin would be more likely to survive and reproduce, leading to a darker-skinned population over time.

• The lizards would learn to hide, and their skin color would not matter.

• The individual lizards would change their skin color to black to match the new environment.

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Environmental Changes and Adaptation

• Environmental changes like climate or habitat loss drive natural selection.

• ​Once-helpful traits can become disadvantages in a new environment.

• This pressures the species to adapt, using its genetic variation.

• If a species cannot adapt quickly enough, it may face extinction.

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Multiple Choice

What is the primary factor that drives natural selection and the pressure for species to adapt?

• Changes in the environment, such as climate or habitat.

• The random chance of genetic mutations.

• Competition for mates within a species.

• The desire of a species to become stronger.

Multiple Choice

How can a trait that was once helpful for a species' survival become a disadvantage?

• When the environment changes, making the trait no longer suitable.

• When a species develops too much genetic variation.

• When the trait is passed on to too many offspring.

• When a species stops evolving completely.

Multiple Choice

A species of fish is adapted to a clear, cool river. If a prolonged drought makes the river warmer and shallower, what is the most likely outcome for this species?

• The species will immediately develop new traits to survive.

• The species may face extinction if it cannot adapt quickly enough to the new conditions.

• Drought will have no effect on the species since it is already adapted.

• The original helpful traits of the species will become even more advantageous.

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Modern Genetic Technologies

Genetic Modification

• Involves directly altering an organism's DNA using specialized technology.

• This can introduce new traits from a different species.

• For example, it can make crops resistant to pests.

Gene Therapy

• This is a developing technology to treat human genetic disorders.

• It aims to cure diseases by correcting faulty genes.

• The goal is to replace or repair non-working genes.

Multiple Choice

What is the fundamental process involved in genetic modification?

• To directly alter an organism's DNA using technology.

• To treat human diseases by correcting faulty genes.

• To study how different species interact with each other.

• To create new organisms without using DNA.

Multiple Choice

What is the key difference in the goals of genetic modification and gene therapy?

• Genetic modification is only for plants, while gene therapy is only for humans.

• Genetic modification introduces new traits, while gene therapy aims to correct faulty genes.

• Genetic modification uses DNA, while gene therapy uses proteins.

• Genetic modification is a developing technology, while gene therapy is well-established.

Multiple Choice

A scientist wants to make a tomato plant that can resist a specific pest by inserting a gene from a pest-resistant bacterium. Which technology should be used and why?

• Gene therapy, because the goal is to cure a disorder in the crop.

• Genetic modification, because it is used to introduce a new trait from another species.

• Gene therapy, because it is used to repair the non-working genes in the pests.

• Genetic modification, because it is a developing technology for treating diseases.

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Common Misconceptions

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Summary

• Artificial selection is driven by human choices through selective breeding and genetic modification.

• Natural selection is driven by the environment, favoring traits for survival and reproduction.

• Genetic variation is the essential raw material for both natural and artificial selection.

• Technologies like genetic modification and gene therapy directly influence the inheritance of traits.

• Environmental changes can drive a species to either adapt or face extinction.

• Understanding cause-and-effect in genetics leads to technologies that impact society.

Poll

On a scale of 1-4, how confident are you about the concepts covered in today's review?

• 1 (Not confident)

• 2 (A little confident)

• 3 (Mostly confident)

• 4 (Very confident)