Unit 9: Issues in Biology

Essential Questions

What are some current ethical issues in biology?

How do these issues effect me? My classmates? The world?

How can I formulate an opinion on these issues based on factual evidence?

Why is it difficult to formulate an opinion on these issues?

Day 1: Genetic Engineering

Learning Objectives: To define genetic engineering and

give examples of genetic engineering

To think of reasons why genetic engineering might be useful

To form an opinion on different situations whether they are right or wrong

To decide whether particular situations should be allowed to continue

To accept other people’s opinions, regardless of whether you agree or disagree with them

Starter

What is genetic engineering?

With your group come up with some specific examples of things that have been genetically engineered.

Discuss whether you think these examples are right or wrong and why you think this.

Time: 10 minutes

Activity 1

Work with your lab group

There are 5 different cases of genetic engineering on the back lab benches

For each of the cases write down what you think of the following: Why might this be useful? Do you think it is right or wrong? Why should it continue/stop?

If your group has conflicting views, write down all your thoughts and opinions

Time: 50 minutes

Activity 2

Discussion of issues

Issues: Dolly the sheep Genetically modifying salmon so

they are bigger Genetically modifying crops so they

grow bigger Genetically modifying organs in pigs

so they can be transplanted into humans

Cloning endangered/extinct species

Time: 20 minutes

Day 2: Gene Therapy & Offspring Selection

To learn about cystic fibrosis, an inherited genetic disorder

To learn about gene therapy

To make decisions regarding genetic testing and gene therapy

Starter

If you could choose what traits your children would inherit, would you?

What traits would you want your children to have?

What do you think about this idea of being able to select the genes that your children would inherit?

Time: 15 minutes

Video Clip: Gattaca

Activity 1

You will be put into groups

Read through the “cystic fibrosis and gene therapy” article

What is cystic fibrosis and how does cystic fibrosis affect the individual?

What is gene therapy?

If you found out you were going to have a child with a genetic disorder, what would you do?

Time: 25 minutes

Activity 2

Read and discuss the case study “Sometimes it is all in the genes” with your group

Answer your questions on a separate page

Time: 30 minutes in group, 15 minutes class discussion

Day 3: Human Overpopulation

Learning Objectives: To learn that human population is

growing at an exponential rate To understand the problems that the

overpopulation of humans can cause on the Earth

Starter

Watch the video clip and answer the following questions:

To what extent do you think that rates of longevity and advances in medicine and food production impact the growth of the world's population?

Why do you think that population growth might be a source of concern?

What potential environmental, economic and social problems are associated with overpopulation?

Time: 15 minutes

Video: Earth Overpopulation Awareness

Activity 1

You and your partner will be given a country

Research the population and demographics of your assigned country and the current status of the country's natural resources. These resources might include fresh water, forests, clean air, wetlands and oceans.

Identify how the country's people benefit from the natural resources and the extent to which the resources are being threatened by human consumption.

You will present your findings at the end of 30 minutes

Time: 30 minutes

Activity 2

Present your findings to the class

Countries included: China, India, USA, UK, Indonesia,

Russia, Brazil, Pakistan, Japan, Nigeria, Germany, Egypt, Vietnam, South Africa

Time: 15 minutes

Video: The Science of Overpopulation

Activity 3 Answer the following questions with your group:

1. What correlations, if any, can be drawn between overpopulation and poverty?

2. What do you think might happen to our planet and its inhabitants if the Earth's natural resources were completely used up?

3. In your opinion, will the world's natural resources be able to handle the Earth's growing population? Why or why not? If not, what can be done to address this problem?

4. What do you think the world will look like in 50 years? In what ways might the world your children and grandchildren live in resemble anything you have known?

5. In your view, what challenges are associated with stabilizing the world's population?

Hand in when completed

Day 4: Stem Cells (60 min)

Learning Objectives: To understand what embryonic stem

cells are To research the studies currently

being done on embryonic stem cells To debate whether research into

stem cells is right or wrong

Starter

What are stem cells?

Why are they so controversial?

Time: 10 minutes

Video Clip: Creating Embryonic Stem Cell Lines

Activity 1

You will be given either a number 1 or number 2

You will work with this group to defend your side of embryonic stem cell research and therapies

1 – For research into stem cells

2 – Against research into stem cells

You will get an opening statement, rebuttal, and closing statement

Time: 30 minutes

Activity 2

Debate

Day 5: Exam preparation