Feeding the World

GMO Corn, The Huffington Post

For hundreds of years, humans have selectively bred species. Farmers selected crops with the best traits, dogs with the most favorable traits, livestock that produced the best milk/eggs/meat. These are all examples of selective breeding and cause a species to change over time.

Today, humans can still cause species but on a far more advanced level. Using modern DNA technology humans have the capability to manipulate species on a genetic level; species can have their traits modified now by manipulation of DNA rather than just selective breeding. For example, corn has been genetically modified to increase overall production, have resistance to insects, shorter growing cycles, etc. This is an example of a genetically modified organism (GMOs). GMOs have become extremely common; believe it or not, you have probably consumed a GMO!

This unit will examine how GMOs are produced while examining whether they provide a solution to the issue of global hunger.

Unit Question:

Are GMOs the answer to the global food crisis?

Unit Product:

Students will justify a solution to the global hunger epidemic by creating a research-based product to share their solution.

Unit Skills:

Skill 1: Asking questions & defining problems
Skill 5: Creating explanations & solutions
Skill 7: Understanding content

Unit Content:

I can outline the structure & function of DNA
I can outline how DNA is used to produce proteins
I can assess factors that influence the carrying capacity of an ecosystem

Additional Resources

GCAT & GCAU

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