Bioethics Essay

Do the potential contributions to society warrant the potential risks inherent in synthetic biology?

Synthetic biology has emerged only recently as an engineering discipline. At this point, the field has more potential than accomplishment. Some people see an incredible potential that includes cures for diseases, biosynthetic fuels and houses that are grown from gourds. Other people question the safety of a process that involves altering genomes.

Students are asked to investigate the question:
Do the potential contributions to society warrant the potential risks inherent in synthetic biology?

WHY TEACH THIS?

Here are some reasons from our BioBuilder teachers:

Practical application of synthetic biology
Introduction to basic engineering principles
Emphasis on engineering “design/build/test” paradigms
Collecting and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data
Determining the need for various types of data
Emphasizing team work and collaboration
Learning and implementing basic lab skills
Learning current and relevant science
High interest
Non-predictable outcomes
Emphasizes creative portion of science
Meets NGSS and Common Core
Adaptable on the inquiry spectrum
Live examples of operons and gene expression
Exposure to population growth curves

WHERE DOES THIS ACTIVITY FIT IN?

The BioBuilder curriculum is intentionally flexible and the activities may be used when and where appropriate based upon student content and skill readiness.
The curriculum is also intentionally modular. You can teach one or more BioBuilder activities, and they do not have to be completed in order.
The BioBuilder curriculum is not intended to stuff “more” content into some already overstuffed classes. It can be used to teach ideas and content that are traditionally taught, applying an engineering framework to teach them with investigative, design questions.
Finally the curriculum is not exclusively intended for one specific life science course. BioBuilder has been used in General or Honors Biology (with high school freshman), in AP Biology and in Biotechnology classes (with high school juniors and seniors), and in college engineering or microbiology lab classes. Middle school students also have had wonderful success with the BioBuilder Jr labs.

SOME BACKGROUND CONTENT AND SKILLS ARE HELPFUL PRIOR TO CONDUCTING LABS.

Content

DNA Basics: what it is and how it works
RNA Basics: what it is and how it works
Gene Expression: Transcription, Translation, Operons
Recombinant DNA: Restriction enzymes, cloning, selection with antibiotic resistance

Skills

Pipetting
Measuring cell density with a spectrophotometer
Basic microbiology skills: Culturing bacteria, Aseptic technique, Antibiotic resistance, Population dynamics

RESOURCES AND DOWNLOADS

Specific materials for teaching this lab

CLASSROOM RESOURCES

Alignment to Standards

HANDOUTS

Lab Comic Strip

ANALYSIS AND FEEDBACK

Assessment Rubrics

Grading Rubric for the Bioethics Essay

Post-Lab Assessment

Help us gauge the understanding and interest that your students have after their BioBuilder activities by participating in a 20 question survey. Student responses will only be reported in aggregate and analyzed for statistically significant trends. We’d be grateful if you could administer this post-assessment only once, after you’ve carried out all the BioBuilder activities you’ll run with your class. THANK YOU!