Introduction
FB.1.3 FB.1.4 Research, analyze, explain, and communicate how scientific enterprise relates to society and
classic inventions (e.g., microscope, blood typing, gel electrophoresis equipment, DNA
sequencing technology).
OBJECTIVES:
- TSW identify the steps of gel electrophoresis with 80% accuracy
- TSW explain the connections of gel electrophoresis to criminal justice with 70% accuracy
DNA has been used to solve many crime cases! Gel electrophoresis is a technique used to identify DNA from a crime scene and compare that to suspects' DNA. Today you will be investigating the process of gel electrophoresis and why it is important in forensic science.
Task
For this assignment, you will be tasked with reading articles and watching short videos to investigate gel electrophoresis and its connection to crime. Be sure ti read completely and thoroughly to fully understand the concept. After completing the web quest, you will take a short quiz on the processes of gel electrophoresis. In conclusion you will be tasked with writing a 1-2 page paper on the connections of gel electrophoresis to criminal justice. You are encouraged to take notes from the articles to support your findings.
Process
To begin, read the following article outlining the steps of gel electrophoresis: https://www.yourgenome.org/theme/what-is-gel-electrophoresis/
After reading the article, watch this video:
Now that you have an understanding of the process of gel electrophoresis, read the following articles on how it links to criminal justice:
- https://www.the-scientist.com/dna-profiling-tracing-killers-and-solving-mysteries-using-genetic-clues-72711
- https://www.news-medical.net/life-sciences/Electrophoresis-as-a-Tool-in-Forensics.aspx
- https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/solving-cold-cases-dna-boston-strangler-case
Finally, watch this lab demo to see how gel electrophoresis is used to find criminals:
Evaluation
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS RUBRIC
| 0 | 20 | 40 | 60 | 80 | 100 |
|
Student answered all 5 questions incorrectly |
Student answered 4 questions incorrectly |
Student answered 3 questions incorrectly |
Student answered 2 questions incorrectly |
Student answered 1 question incorrectly |
Student answered none of the questions incorrectly |
PAPER RUBRIC
| 0 | 25 | 50 | 75 | 100 |
|
Student does not complete assignment |
Students paper is mostly inaccurate and fails to explain gel electrophoresis in forensics |
Students paper has some false information and vaguely explains gel electrophoresis in forensics |
Students paper has little to no false information and explains the connection of gel electrophoresis to forensics |
Students paper has complete and accurate information and effectively explains the connection of gel electrophoresis to forensics |
Conclusion
Now that you have completed the web quest, reflect on what you have learned. Has this changed your view on science and its connection to the world? How will you take this new information with you throughout the genetics unit; will you perceive the new information in a new light? Science is all around us, isn't it fun to make those real-world connections you once might not have even thought about?!
Credits
CREDITS:
YOUTUBE
YOUR GENOME
THE SCIENTIST
NEWS MEDICAL
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE
Teacher Page
This web quest was created for a 9th grade Introduction to Biology classroom in alignment with Mississippi College and Career Readiness Standards for Science.