Biotechnology lesson plans

1. Basics of DNA: Creating Gummy DNA
   • This lesson plan will help students to gain an overview understanding of DNA and its relevance to genetic engineering.

1. Double Muscle Cattle Herd: Cattle Mendelian Inheritance 
   • This activity allows the abstract concept of Mendelian studies to be applied to a trait easily seen in cattle, through the double muscling trait. Students will use their knowledge of Mendelian inheritance and probabilities to complete a pedigree worksheet that requires them to predict the phenotype or genotype of specific cattle.
2. Decision Making on the SocioScience Case Study on Genetically Engineered Enviropig 
   • This lesson plan will have students pretend to be a part of stakeholder (or interest) groups who are speaking about whether or not Enviropigs, a type of genetically engineered pig, should be raised and consumed in the United States.

1. Agriculture and Genetics
   • Resources to help teach about selection of tomato varieties to meet farmer goals with emphasis on the genetic decision-making of gene edited vs. transgenic vs. cross bred tomatoes. Note: originally created for introductory college courses, but could be used for advanced high school courses.
2. Safety Testing of Genetically Modified Products: Golden Rice
   • Students will learn about the process of the development of Golden Rice, a genetically-modified organism (GMO), as a way to combat Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD) in the world.
3. Anatomy of a Flower
   • Students will use this module to refresh their knowledge of basic flower anatomy as it relates to genetic transformations of plants.
4. Plant Breeding
   • Learn how traditional plant breeding techniques contribute to genetic transformations.
5. Protein Detection for Genetically Engineered Plants and Seeds
   • Students will learn how to test GMO and non-GMO soybeans to detect which soybeans contain the novel DNA that makes the protein that confers Round-up Ready resistance in soybeans.
6. Practice Inserting a Gene
   • With prior understanding of basic genetics (Mendelian principles of heredity, DNA structure & function, mitosis & meiosis) students will use the PBS application "Practice Inserting a Gene) and the online resources of "Journey of a Gene" to go through the process of inserting a new gene into an organism to get a desired trait.
7. Cornhusker Genetics
   • Students often fail to realize that a Punnett squares components represent the process of gene segregation. This activity allows the abstract concept of Mendelian studies to be applied to a real, observable, and applicable in corn crops and modern agricultural genetics that is the basis of alternative food products such as blue corn chips.
8. Who Wants to Be a Genetic Engineer
   • Students will define the role of a genetic engineer and identify the steps to create a transgene plant. Student will also be able to differentiate between traditional plant breeding and genetic engineering.
9. Introduction to Gel Electrophoresis
   • Students will, with a lab partner or in small groups, conduct an experiment to introduce them to the principles and terminology of gel electrophoresis.
10. Designing a Solution with Biotechnology
    • The purpose of this lesson is for students to discover that genetic engineering can be used to meet problems that exist in current agriculture. Students assume the role of a genetic engineer and work to investigate the designing of a transgenic organism while proposing solutions to micronutrient deficiency in cassava crops.
11. Economic Impact of Sudden Death Syndrome: Fusarium versus Soybean
    • The purpose of this lesson is for students to discover that genetic engineering can be used to meet problems that exist in current agriculture. Students assume the role of a genetic engineer and work to investigate the designing of a transgenic organism while proposing solutions to micronutrient deficiency in cassava crops.
12. Introduction to Genetic Engineering: Creating a Soybean with SDS Resistance
    • This lesson plan will help students to gain an overview of understanding of genetic engineering. Students will use the scenario potential impact that producers face and review options available.

1. Phosphorus Pollution - Biotechnology Solutions
   • The purpose of this lesson is for students to discover that genetic engineering can be used to meet problems that exist in current agriculture. Students start by reading a letter from a farmer about phosphorus overload in waterways near pig farms. Students explore current biotechnology methods used to reduce phosphorus levels in pig manure and identify the pros and cons of each method by making a brochure about them. Next, students assume the role of a genetic engineer to design their own solution to the phosphorus load problem in waterways near pig farms. Students will present their biotechnology solutions in front of the class on poster paper.

See more of the Journey of a Gene at https://ge.unl.edu/

If you have questions about these lesson plans, contact Leah Sandall (lsandall5@unl.edu).