Kenan Fellows
Unit 2: DNA Analysis
Ever wonder how they solve those mysterious murders in TV crime dramas? The second of four units in a Biotechnology series introduces scholars to the many methods of DNA analysis. Pupils create and run their own gel electrophoresis...
Curated OER
Recombinant DNA - Electrophoresis Demonstration and Problem
Suitable for an AP Biology class, the lab found here has teen bioengineers working with plasmids to clone DNA. If you have not done a similar lab, the instructions may be rather difficult to follow. Both the teacher and learner...
Curated OER
AP: Chapter 20: DNA Technology
This nine-page biotechnology resource contains six pages of questions regarding DNA technology. Questions cover cloning, restriction enzymes, the polymerase chain reaction, different techniques, the human genome project, and more. The...
Curated OER
Creating New Forms of Life
Although not particularly educational, here is a creative group activity in which high school biologists will use their imaginations to create a new life form combining characteristics from existing life forms. Each group must come up...
Curated OER
Lesson 16: DNA Technology
Students research different areas of biotechnology. In this biology lesson, students create a presentation about their research. They debate the topic presented and share their views on the subject.
Curated OER
Biotechnology and The Chocolate Milk Cow
Students discuss new discoveries that have resulted from the use of recombinant DNA technology and otehr biotechnology. In groups, they create a transgenic cow capable of producing chocolate-flavored milk.
Curated OER
Simulation of Gene Splicing
Students simulate gene splicing by examining bacteria. They create a bacterial DNA into which they insert the human DNA (gene) that codes for growth hormone. They cut the sites of the enzyme to study how the human DNA can be joined to...
Curated OER
Creating New Forms of Life
High schoolers are asked to use their imaginations to take the idea of biotechnology one step further. Before beginning this activity students read and complete a report on the book "Jurassic Park," which deals with the use of...
Kenan Fellows
Unit 4: Bioethics and the Future of Biotechnology
What's the future of biotechnology? Explore a hot topic in the fourth and final unit in a series of Biotechnology lessons. Learners develop an understanding of the many issues in bioethics, then create an argument for or against the role...
Curated OER
The Cloning of Plasmid and Spinach DNA
Young scholars will first extract genomic DNA from spinach and perform a restriction enzyme digestion on both the spinach DNA and the plasmid using the same restriction enzyme. They then ligate the cut plasmid DNA with the cut spinach...
Curated OER
Cloning of Plasmid and Spinach DNA
Young scholars ligate fragments of genomic DNA from spinach into a vector plasmid. They perform a restriction enzyme digestion. Student use a ligated DNA molecule to transform E. coli cells. Students analyze their procedures and...
Kenan Fellows
Unit 1: Introduction to Biotechnology
Biotechnology is big! Introduce the uses of biotechnology to science scholars with a fascinating, fact-filled unit. The first installment in a series of four biotechnology units covers the role biotechnology plays in human and...
Curated OER
Genes: The Building Blocks of Life
Students examine various topics on genetics. Students explore the Internet to gather information on genetic testing, genetically engineered food, forensics, DNA and cloning. They research and determine the best way to fund each of the...
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How Things Go Wrong
Students identify where mutations might occur and examine what effect those mutations will have through class discussion of DNA replication and cell division. Students then differentiate between mutations that affect individuals and...
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Vaccines
Students explore and explain the role of vaccines in infectious disease, They emphasize immunological principles and viral/bacterial infection processes. Students explore the three main vaccine types: DNA vaccines ("gene gun"),...
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Science: Designer genes
Students engineer new organisms using biotechnology. In small groups, they write procedures, list benefits and drawbacks, and explain how their new organism might affect the environment. After creating their new organisms, they present...
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Genetics and Molecular Biology
Students create DNA models using colored construction papers. In this biology lesson, students identify enzyme restriction sites. They model how DNA plasmids replicate when taken up by a bacterial cell.
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Genetically Engineered Food: Altering the Blueprint
Students explore the genetic engineering of food. For this health lesson students explain how DNA technology can be used to produce food.
Cornell University
Bacteria Take Over and Down
Bacteria outnumber all other forms of life on Earth. Scholars observe the growth of bacteria in petri dishes to understand their role in maintaining good health. Then, they observe the growth of bacteria after they introduce...
Curated OER
Genetically-Modified Food
Students investigate the pros and cons of genetic engineering. They watch a short Bill Moyers video, conduct Internet research, create a poster, participate in a pro/con debate, and write an essay expressing their personal feelings on...
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A Clone of Your Own: The Legal Issues and the Future of Genetic Engineering on Humans
Twelfth graders define cloning in their own words and examine the different types of cloning. After reading an article, they summarize it in their own words and use the internet to research the history of cloning. In groups, they...
Curated OER
Biotechnology: Monster or Miracle
Young scholars explore biotechnology. In this scenario-based lesson plan, students take a survey on what they know about genetic engineering, view a PowerPoint, and conduct a web quest. Young scholars will then be placed in groups, and...
Curated OER
High Tech Food
Students view videos, read, and fill in charts about agriculture production. In this agriculture lesson plan, students complete these agriculture activities and explore careers in agriculture.