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Culminating Activity:
Agricultural Biotechnology of Tomorrow
A guided-inquiry project
There are in many stages in implementing agricultural biotechnology. During the developmental stages scientists must research, identify problems in agriculture, problem solve, propose solutions, follow safety guidelines, meet state and federal regulations and identify the risks and benefits of implementing a biotechnology practice. In this experience, students will identify agricultural issues, devise solutions and create displays to share with the class. As they begin, students imagine the capabilities scientists may have in the near future with the use of advanced technology.
Objectives
Students will: |
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Research existing agricultural biotechnology techniques. |
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Identify common agricultural issues and create solutions to these issues by incorporating biotechnology. |
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Identify controversial issues related to agricultural biotechnology. |
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Discuss safety, regulation, environmental risks and benefits, nutrition, farming, and farmers, and consumer factors involved when implementing biotechnology. |
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List the pros and cons for implementing agricultural biotechnology techniques. |
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Advertise or display an agricultural biotechnology problem and solution to the class. |
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| Focus Questions: |
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What are some agricultural issues of today? |
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What are the pros and cons of implementing agricultural biotechnology? |
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What are possible controversial issues that are related to agricultural biotechnology? |
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How does the implementation of agricultural biotechnology affect farming, farmers and consumers? |
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What are the environmental risks and benefits of implementing agricultural biotechnology? |
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Should the government regulate agricultural biotechnology? Why or Why not? |
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Indiana's Academic Standards
Science
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Standard 1: The Nature of Science and Technology (6.1.8, 6.1.9, 7.1.3, 7.1.8, 7.1.9, 7.1.10, 8.1.4, 8.1.7, 8.1.8) |
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Standard 2: Scientific Thinking (6.2.7, 8.2.7) |
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Standard 4: The Living Environment (6.4.13, 7.4.9, 7.4.10, 8.4.8) |
Social Studies
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Standard 3: Geography (6.3.13, 6.3.14, 6.3.16, 6.4.10) |
You will need...
Time: As many days as desired, but at least four days in class. Time outside of class will also be needed.
Materials: |
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Ag Biotech of Tomorrow handout |
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Resources for students to do research, library access and internet access |
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Tables, signs or invitations for the Ag Biotech Fair. |
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Procedures:
Day 1
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Plan a day when you can have an Ag Biotech Fair. You may want to invite parents, other classes or teachers to observe the displays. Explain to the students that on this day they will be required to present their findings at the Fair. Have them keep this in mind as the experience continues. |
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Present some common agricultural problems farmers experience today: |
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Losing crops to insects. |
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Environmental problems due to pesticides. |
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Need to increase the quantity of food produced per acre. |
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Need to increase the quality of food produced. |
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Crops destroyed by drought, flood or disease. |
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Elicit additional agricultural problems from students and record responses. |
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Elicit from students some of the biotechnology practices being implemented today that they discovered on the time line. Ask students if these practices may be attempts to solve specific problems. Examples: |
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Tomatoes can now contain a gene that produces an enzyme to make tomatoes ripen without turning soft. |
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Yellow daffodils contain a substance that can be converted into vitamin A if consumed. Genes that cause the yellow color of daffodils were recombined with rice seeds. The newly modified golden rice seeds now contain the substance that the body converts to vitamin A. |
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Introduce two additional biotechnology practices being implemented today. Examples: |
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Soybeans contain proteins that some people are allergic to. Scientists have identified the main allergen in soybeans and can eliminate it using biotechnology, thereby eliminating the allergy. |
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Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt is a bacterium that produces a protein called Bt toxin. Bt toxin kills insects and larvae that eat these bacteria. Scientists have taken this Bt gene and have recombined it with corn and cotton crops so they can produce their own Bt toxin, thereby reducing the need for pesticides on these specific crops. |
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Give students an example of an agricultural problem consumers might be facing today. |
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For example: Some people are allergic to certain foods, such as seafood, peanuts or milk. Ask the question: What if allergens could be removed from foods? Suggest a solution to the problem: Remove the gene from the plant that causes the allergy using biotechnology. |
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Have an open discussion on the possible controversial issues involved with biotechnology. |
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Safety - people, crops, other plants, animals and insects |
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Regulation - necessary steps to become approved by the government. Ask the students: Why is it important for scientists to keep clear and honest records? |
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Environmental benefits and risks |
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Nutrition |
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Farmers |
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Consumers |
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Challenge students to brainstorm with a partner and identify a problem involved in agriculture today. Allow them some time to use the Internet to do this. Once a problem is selected, have students discuss it with you to determine if it is an appropriate selection. |
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Challenge groups to design a solution using agricultural biotechnology. Their solutions can be creative and hypothetical regarding advances in biotechnology in the future. Encourage them to think out of the box and use biotechnology to find a possible solution. |
Days 2 and 3
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Pass out the Ag Biotech of Tomorrow handout and instruct groups to: |
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identify an agricultural dilemma. |
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propose a solution. |
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identify controversial issues related to agricultural biotechnology. |
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list the pros and cons of using agricultural biotechnology techniques for this particular problem and solution. |
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discuss safety, regulation, environmental risks and benefits, nutrition, farming, farmers and consumer factors. |
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Allow them some time to work on these in class as well as at home. |
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Allow students to share their topic choosing one of the methods below at the Ag Biotech Fair. |
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PowerPoint presentation |
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Informative brochure |
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Series of cartoons |
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Poster board |
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Model of the product |
Day 4
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Have a celebration of work and hold an Ag Biotech Fair. Allow the students to observe each other's displays and make comments. |
Assessment:
Use a rubric for grading displays at the fair and share your criteria with students. The categories to be graded could include: stating the problem, explaining the solution, listing pros and cons, identifying controversial issues, mentioning safety, regulations, environmental risks and benefits, nutrition, farming and farmer or consumer factors.
Use the provided rubric for this purpose or create your own.
Teacher Tips:
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Adapt complexity of focus. |
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Students may need some guidance in deciding where to search for their problem. Here are some print suggestions: Newsweek, Time, New York Times, USA Today and your local papers.
Here is a site with some Internet suggestions:
http://www.biotech.iastate.edu/publications/ed_resources/News_links.html |
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Some students will need extra guidance in their research. Allow some class time for their work; they may need to ask questions about how to look for things. |
Resources:
For the Students:
Websites:
Books:
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Bramwell, Martyn. Food Watch. New York: Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2001 |
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Dowswell, Paul. Genetics: The Impact on Our Lives. Austin: Steck-Vaughn Company, 2001 |
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Jefferis, David. Cloning: Frontiers of Genetic Engineering. New York: Crabtree Publishing, 1999 |
For the Teacher:
Websites:
Books:
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National 4-H Council, Field of Genes: Making Sense of Biotechnology in Agriculture. Maryland: National 4-H Council, 1997 |
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Zinnen, Tom and Jane Voichick, Biotechnology and Food. Madison: Cooperative Extension Publications, 1994 |
Family Connections:
Share with families the scope of this project and have them help with locating articles and information about biotechnology. Invite parents to attend the fair.
Museum Links
Have the students use the various links on the museum's biotech Website, to do their research. They can check out the "In the News" section to find recent articles relating to biotechnology. |
