This lesson introduces students to one of the earliest forms of Biotechnology. Scientists and Engineers use Artificial Selection to breed plants or animals to enhance desirable traits. Students will learn the difference between natural and artificial selection and will experience being biotechnology engineers while they “breed” the best bean for human consumption. (Most appropriate for grade levels 8-12.)
Lesson Time: 50 minutes
Student Activity 1: Students will work with a partner in this activity as they decide which beans are the best to stay in the “crop rotation” and which beans should be “weeded out”.
Group work: Students will work in pairs. In order to save time, teachers are asked to create the groups before our Wizard arrives.
Science Standards:
8.LS.1: Diversity of species, a result of variation of traits, occurs through the process of evolution and extinction over many generations. The fossil records provide evidence that changes have occurred in number and types of species.
8.LS.2: Every organism alive today comes from a long line of ancestors who reproduced successfully every generation.
8.LS.3: The characteristics of an organism are a result of inherited traits received from parent(s).
High School Standards:
B.H.1: Cellular genetics
B.H.3: Genetic mechanisms and inheritance
B.H.4: Mutations
B.H.5: Modern genetics