7th grade integrated science

Standard 4: Objective 2 b & c (also 1a) *2d if extension activity is done*

Title: Unique Changes in Genetic traits

Description: this is a fun activity that catches the students’ interest with various
strange or mutated organisms. Students will look at various pictures of organisms
with unique characteristics or mutations. As you go through the slides discuss with
the students whether the organism is real or fake, natural or man-made, & if the
change will help, hurt, or not affect the survival of the organism.

Materials Needed:
Mutation PowerPoint

Time Needed: 50 min

Safety issues or specialized background knowledge:

Most of the slides have information in the notes explaining about the organism,
and the unique characteristic it has. Some of the notes also include links to sites
for more in-depth info if you want to provide that to your students.

Teacher Procedures:
1. Hook activity: have the students do a Journal entry responding to the question:
If you could have any super powers which would you have and why? (If you want
some ideas:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_comic_book_superpowers)
Have students share with each other, then have some of them and discuss where
the powers in some super heroes come from. (Spiderman = bit by radioactive
spider, superman = inherited from parents, & etc.) Most are mutations or a change
in genetic traits. The super powers students want give them some kind of
advantage, discuss some problems that having the superpower might cause.
2. Go through the PowerPoint, and for each slide discuss the following questions:
1. Is this organism real or fake?
2. Is this genetic change natural or man-made?
3. Would this genetic change be an advantage or disadvantage to the
natural environment of the organism? (camouflage, getting food, sexual
selection/ would it help attract a mate, etc.)
4. Think of a situation where the genetic change would be the opposite of
what was selected above
3. Either discuss as a class or have them fill out a student page. Questions 2 & 3
could be answered on the student sheet after going through all the slides.
4. Following this, you can do an extension research activity where students select
a unique or rare organism and find out a few basic facts, and how it is adapted to
where and how it lives. Be careful if you are letting them do mutated animals, it
may be hard to find information that is on their level.
Scoring Rubric or answer key:
1. Participation………………………………………………………4
2. Journal Page……………………………………………………..4
Student Page:
Name:__________________________________Date:________Period:_______

Title: Unique Changes in Genetic Traits

Introduction:
All organisms are the way they are because of the combination of
inherited and acquired traits they have. Sometimes things happen that cause
those traits to change. These changes can be caused by the environment
around them and are considered natural influences. Sometimes people can
cause genetic changes, whether it is on purpose or an accident. This is
called a manmade influence.

Prediction/Hypothesis:
Are most changes in genetic traits good for the organism? Why or why not?

Procedures:
As you learn about the organisms think about how the change happened and
whether or not it would help the organism survive or make it harder to survive.
Answer the following questions for 8 of the “real” organisms. Answer in complete
sentences.

Data
Organism #1______________________________________________________
1. Is this genetic change natural or man-made?

2. Would this genetic change be an advantage or disadvantage to the natural

environment of the organism? Explain (camouflage, getting food, sexual selection/
would it help attract a mate, etc.)

3. Think of a situation where the genetic change could be the opposite of what was
selected above (If it hurt think of a way it might help)
Organism #2______________________________________________________
1. Is this genetic change natural or man-made?

2. Would this genetic change be an advantage or disadvantage to the natural

environment of the organism? Explain (camouflage, getting food, sexual selection/
would it help attract a mate, etc.)

3. Think of a situation where the genetic change could be the opposite of what was
selected above (If it hurt think of a way it might help)

Organism #3______________________________________________________
1. Is this genetic change natural or man-made?

2. Would this genetic change be an advantage or disadvantage to the natural

environment of the organism? Explain (camouflage, getting food, sexual selection/
would it help attract a mate, etc.)

3. Think of a situation where the genetic change could be the opposite of what was
selected above (If it hurt think of a way it might help)

Organism #4______________________________________________________
1. Is this genetic change natural or man-made?

2. Would this genetic change be an advantage or disadvantage to the natural

environment of the organism? Explain (camouflage, getting food, sexual selection/
would it help attract a mate, etc.)

3. Think of a situation where the genetic change could be the opposite of what was
selected above (If it hurt think of a way it might help)
Organism #5______________________________________________________
1. Is this genetic change natural or man-made?

2. Would this genetic change be an advantage or disadvantage to the natural

environment of the organism? Explain (camouflage, getting food, sexual selection/
would it help attract a mate, etc.)

3. Think of a situation where the genetic change could be the opposite of what was
selected above (If it hurt think of a way it might help)

Organism #6______________________________________________________
1. Is this genetic change natural or man-made?

2. Would this genetic change be an advantage or disadvantage to the natural

environment of the organism? Explain (camouflage, getting food, sexual selection/
would it help attract a mate, etc.)

3. Think of a situation where the genetic change could be the opposite of what was
selected above (If it hurt think of a way it might help)

Organism #7______________________________________________________
1. Is this genetic change natural or man-made?

2. Would this genetic change be an advantage or disadvantage to the natural

environment of the organism? Explain (camouflage, getting food, sexual selection/
would it help attract a mate, etc.)

3. Think of a situation where the genetic change could be the opposite of what was
selected above (If it hurt think of a way it might help)
Organism #8______________________________________________________
1. Is this genetic change natural or man-made?

2. Would this genetic change be an advantage or disadvantage to the natural

environment of the organism? Explain (camouflage, getting food, sexual selection/
would it help attract a mate, etc.)

3. Think of a situation where the genetic change could be the opposite of what was
selected above (If it hurt think of a way it might help)

Analysis:
Which were there more of helpful or harmful changes?

How did that compare with your hypothesis?

Were all genetic changes always good or always bad? Use an example to explain.

Conclusion:
Discuss with a partner and come up with 2 reasons that humans would
intentionally change the genetic traits of organisms?
1.

2.

Imagine there was a change in genetic traits that caused an owl to be born with
only one eye. Would an owl born in a zoo be affected the same as an owl born in
the wild? Explain