The resource focus is TEKS (B)(6)(E) where students are expected to identify and illustrate changes in DNA and evaluate the significance of the changes. The resource is for use during Tier 1 instruction. However, it can be assigned as a tutorial, a review, homework, or as an introduction to the unit of study. It is up to you, the teacher, to review the components and use them as you see fit to provide additional support for student learning.
It is recommended that students use an interactive journal or science notebook to track their thoughts, ideas, questions, and "ahas" as they navigate through the content. A note-taking tool is provided as an option in the Related Items section at the bottom of the web page. You will also find additional resources to differentiate instruction in Related Items.
The following is a short description of each lesson component. Note that there are no assessments within the resource.
Engage: Video Segment
Professor Finestein, a fictitious character, introduces the concept of genetic mutations by using mistakes in the English language as a metaphor.
Explore 1: Interactive Animation
Students take on the role of quality control supervisor in a protein production factory. They analyze amino acid sequences for mistakes, identify the mutations, and approve or recycle the amino sequence.
Explain 1: Video
This section includes a video that helps students understand more detailed information about mutations. A note-taking tool is available in Related Items. It is designed for students to use throughout the resource.
Explore 2: Interactive Weblink
Students are introduced to the idea that mutations can lead to disease, variation within a species, or sometimes both.
Explain 2: Interactive Weblink
The focus of this section is on variation in a species as it relates to the evolutionary development of color perception in human eyes.
Elaborate 1: Web Text and Interactive Weblink
Students are first introduced to the effects of the point mutation that causes sickle cell anemia. Then they explore web text that provides information on a variety of diseases caused by mutations and the environment. The third part of the section is focused on chromosomal mutations and nondisjunction during meiosis.
Elaborate 2: Web Interactive
Students view information that suggests the translocation of one chromosome to another led to the development of the human species.