This unit is intended for a senior honors or Advanced Placement Biology class and will require about two to four weeks to complete, depending on the students’ aptitude and prior knowledge. The New Haven Public Schools Science Curriculum demonstrates a commitment to the discussion of current science events among its teachers and students. The questioning of modern biological techniques and the discussion of its social and moral implications is a vital part of a science curriculum; this includes any legal issues that may arise. The bullets to be covered in the unit stem from the Connecticut Common Core of Teaching and Learning and were adapted by The New Haven Public School science curriculum committee. They include:
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1. Preparing and defending a position on the ethics of genetic engineering;
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2. Preparing persuasive writing on gene splicing and cloning;
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3. Preparing and delivering oral presentations on possible benefits and problems of recombinant DNA technology.
The objectives of this unit are as follows:
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Students will be able to define cloning, including the various types
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Students will be able to construct a timeline of the history of cloning (1880 to present)
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Students will be able to simulate the processes of bacterial cloning (Recombinant DNA) and reproductive cloning.
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Students will be able to research and evaluate landmark court decisions and legal precedents to develop an argument as to whether a person has the right to clone oneself.
(Developed for Human Anatomy, grade 12; recommended for High School grades 10-12)
