Poster:  Designing a New Genetically Engineered Food Product                                                                                               

AgBiosafety.unl.edu

 

Introduction

Many things must be considered when creating a new genetically engineered crop. What will be the benefits of this new product?  What testing will be needed to address safety concerns?  What will be consumer opinion of the new product? In this lesson, students will be placed in the role of the genetic engineer and will apply their understanding of the steps in the crop genetic engineering process to design a new genetically engineered food of their choice.

 

OBJECTIVES

1.Students will learn the basic steps of genetically engineering a crop as outlined in the biotechnology basics section of http://agbiosafety.unl.edu/education/.

2. Students will adapt their understanding of the crop genetic engineering and apply this understanding to create a new food product.

3.Students will evaluate their product and predict its benefits and limitations.

4.Students will explore the economic, social, environmental and ethical ramifications of their product.

 

RESOURCES/MATERIALS

-          Poster board or poster-sized pieces of paper

-          Markers or crayons

-          Any materials students want to include with their presentations (i.e. foodstuffs or diagrams)

 

Process of genetic engineering

Instructors may adapt the language for students of different learning levels, however the basic process of crop genetic engineering follows these steps:

-The organism the trait/s is originating from

-The gene encoding the trait

-How the gene is modified to achieve the desired expression of the trait

-The cells of the organism that the transgene is inserted into

-Any breeding that would need to be done to improve the final product

-The final product

 

*picture

 

Lesson

1.  Through instructor-led discussion students will discuss the steps and process of genetic engineering.  (Information available at http://agbiosafety.unl.edu/education/).

2.   Instructor will discuss types of genetically engineered crops and their traits

3.   Students will be divided into groups of 3-4 students.

4.  In the groups students will brainstorm ideas for a new genetically engineered crop product.

5.  Students will select one of their ideas for the new product, and outline the steps necessary to create the new product.

6.  Students will create a poster showing the steps necessary to create the new product.

a. the poster will have drawings of the steps and text that briefly explains the step

b.  Students will list the benefits of their new product and any limitations that they might predict as a result of their product

7.  On completion of the posters, students will display the poster and discuss their product through instructor-led discussion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessment

Students should largely be assessed by their understanding of the process of genetic engineering.  A simple grading rubric like the one below can be used to grade the student’s project. 

 

Understanding of the process of genetic engineering and adaptation to the new product creation 50

Explanation of new product on poster and in discussion  25

Explanation of the possible benefits and limitations 10

Creativity of the new product idea 10 points

Poster neatness, organization and completeness  5