Standard Area - MST:
Math, Science & Technology
- Standard - MST4: Students will understand and apply scientific concepts, principles, and theories pertaining to the physical setting and living environment and recognize the historical development of ideas in science.
- Key Idea Code - MST4.LE:
- Key Idea - MST4.LE2: Organisms inherit genetic information in a variety of ways that result in continuity of structure and function between parents and offspring.
- Academic Level - MST4.C.LE2:
- Performance Indicator - MST4.C.LE2B: Students explain how the technology of genetic engineering allows
humans to alter the genetic makeup of organisms.
- Major Understandings - 2.2a : For thousands of years new varieties of cultivated plants and domestic animals
have resulted from selective breeding for particular traits.
- Major Understandings - 2.2b : In recent years new varieties of farm plants and animals have been engineered by
manipulating their genetic instructions to produce new characteristics.
- Major Understandings - 2.2c : Different enzymes can be used to cut, copy, and move segments of DNA.
Characteristics produced by the segments of DNA may be expressed when these segments are inserted into new organisms, such as bacteria.
- Major Understandings - 2.2d : Inserting, deleting, or substituting DNA segments can alter genes. An altered gene
may be passed on to every cell that develops from it.
- Major Understandings - 2.2e : Knowledge of genetics is making new fields of health care possible; for example,
finding genes which may have mutations that can cause disease will aid in the development of preventive measures to fight disease. Substances, such as hormones and
enzymes, from genetically engineered organisms may reduce the cost and side effects of
replacing missing body chemicals.
