Lesson Plan Kit
DNA on Your Plate (Grades 9-12)
Price: Free
Students will explore the importance of DNA and beef products in their everyday lives by extracting DNA from beef jerky. The DNA extraction will help them visualize the DNA in beef and other products they find in the grocery store. Students will walk away with a better understanding of where DNA can be found, not only in the nucleus and the cell but in all living organisms and their food. Helping students visualize DNA in food allows them to understand the science behind genetic modification and demystify the process behind altering the genes of the plants that grow our food. Students will develop an understanding of DNA, traditional cross-breeding practices, and genetic modification. By using a beef product as the context for the lab, students will explore the impact of beef on the Kansas economy and careers associated with biotechnology.