Build A Crop
Purposes:
Learn about what genetically altered crops can be used for
Improve problem solving skills.

Materials: a print out of the handout below for each student or group of students. Also, the ability to view the accompanying depictions of the scenarios.

Suggested application:
Have students break into small groups, or work individually, to determine what genetic changes could be made to solve the different problems presented.

Justifying the genes used should be encouraged. Worksheets could either be collected to be looked at or graded, or a class discussion could be held to discuss possible answers.


Directions: Scientists can genetically modify crops to deal with many problems encountered by farmers. This is done by inserting segments of DNA into the crops which give the crops different properties.

Scientists must determine what segments would be best used to solve the different problems. Several example problems have been presented below, along with possible DNA segments that could be used to solve them. Your job is to determine what gene or genes should be used to create each new genetically engineered crop. Explain why each choice solves the given problem and why you decided it was the best choice if there were several possible solutions. Also, explain any drawbacks of the choices you have made. The genes that have been provided may be used more than once, or not at all.

Farmers have a choice to make when deciding whether or not to use genetically modified crops. They have to buy seeds of the crop with the different modifications already there. They can buy a crop with no modifications, one DNA segment added or multiple segments added. Crops with multiple segments added are more expensive but are sometimes necessary or are more efficient.

A genetics laboratory has decided to create some new genetically modified crops. They have created DNA code segments that can do the following:
They have been presented with the following problems: Note: All names and scenarios were created for the purpose of instruction and are not to be used as a factual reference.