This Field Study will not be offered Spring of 2012
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Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering
A field study focusing on developing genetically modified corn and
using enzymes to make biofuels
Sponsored by Syngenta and Novozymes
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Overview: Eons ago, man learned that some plants were tasty. Eventually, he learned that it was a whole lot more efficient to grown them himself than to spend all day trying to find them growing wild. Today, agriculture is a multi-billion dollar industry.
Corn is critical to myriad industries on the earth, not just feeding people and animals. Syngenta has developed a method of protecting corn against a particular pest, and students attending this field study will model that process in order to understand the science and technology involved in producing a viable genetically modified plant.
Students will research uses of corn to assess its importance, review the characteristics of proteins and the means by which they are produced in organisms. Since Syngenta developed a modified protein, students will study the methods of modifying protein structures and genetically modifying corn to produce this modified protein. Finally, students analyze the results of their work to determine whether or not the methods they employed to create their modified corn were successful. In addition, students discuss some of the safety systems employed to ensure that genetically modified corn is safe for introduction into the food supply and whether or not these safety systems are sufficient.
Science Concepts: protein synthesis, gene regulation, corn biology, modes of pesticide action, protein assays, electrophoresis, transformation, enzymes
Activities Featured:
* Perform internet research on the uses of corn and which country produces the most corn; report findings to the class
* Use alpha-amalyse to break down a mixture of corn and hot water typical of in one of the steps in making biofuels
* Create a hypothetical protein out of amino acids and fold into the tertiary structure based on the amino acid characteristics
* Perform internet research to determine previous proteins that have been used as insecticides
* Dissect out a corn embryo
* Tranform the corn embryo
* Learn how to use a micropipettor
* Load, run, and analyze a DNA electrophoresis gel
* Perform a protein assay
Standard Course of Study Objectives Addressed: 1.01-1.05, 2.01, 3.01, 3.03, 3.04, 4.03, 4.04
Student Profile: This unit is appropriate for students in Standard, Honors, or AP Biology, as well as biotechnology courses. The content is sufficiently flexible to accommodate students form entry-level to highly advanced.
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