Grade 08 Science - EC: S8.B.2.1.4
Grade 08 Science - EC: S8.B.2.1.4
Continuum of Activities
The list below represents a continuum of activities: resources categorized by Standard/Eligible Content that teachers may use to move students toward proficiency. Using LEA curriculum and available materials and resources, teachers can customize the activity statements/questions for classroom use.
This continuum of activities offers:
- Instructional activities designed to be integrated into planned lessons
- Questions/activities that grow in complexity
- Opportunities for differentiation for each student’s level of performance
Grade Levels
8th Grade
Course, Subject
Science
Related Academic Standards / Eligible Content
Activities
- Define selective breeding.
- Define biotechnology.
- Describe how selective breeding can change the genetic makeup of an organism.
- Describe how biotechnology can change the genetic makeup of an organism.
- Identify one advantage and one disadvantage of selective breeding.
- Identify one advantage and one disadvantage of biotechnology.
Answer Key/Rubric
- Selective breeding involves the breeding of two organisms to achieve a desirable trait.
- Biotechnology involves the manipulation of living organisms through genetic engineering to produce desirable products or offspring.
- Selective breeding can change the genetic makeup because when two organisms mate, they are selected based on their traits. If the traits are dominant, the offspring will have some genetic makeup to carry this desirable trait. Over time through continued breeding, the desirable traits continue to be passed on to offspring.
- Biotechnology involves genetic engineering, in which technologies are used to change the genetic makeup of a cell. Organisms can be given genes artificially with the attempt to influence the desirable traits. If these traits are passed on to offspring, it can change the genetic makeup of the species.
- Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:
Advantages:
- May achieve the inheritance of desirable traits.
- May eliminate the occurrence of undesirable traits
- Easier way to determine of one specific trait can be inherited
- May eliminate disease or other problems in a species
Disadvantages:
- Can be considered unethical/unnatural
- Loss of variety in species
- One single test can’t prove the continued inheritance of a trait
- Discomfort (animals)
- Acceptable responses may include, but are not limited to:
Advantages:
- Certain diseases/problems may be able to be detected or eliminated
- May promote the inheritance of desired traits
- Could increase variety within a species
Disadvantages:
- Introducing modified genes may have effects currently unknown
- Can be considered unethical
