Wood to Wheels 2012– Unit Timeline
Jenn Coury
Genetically Modified Plants: Applications of Bioengineering
(I teach on a 90 minute block where Wednesdays are 60min)
Lesson Title & Brief description
Day
Duration
Learning Objectives
Lesson One: How can biomass
structure and cellulose
degradation be optimized for
biofuels?
M
45 min
- Students will be able to explain the
three parts of the W2W program
(Woody Biomass Resource Research,
Bio-processing Research, and Engine
and Vehicle System)
- Students will be able to describe
the characteristics of wood that
scientists are manipulating in the lab
in order to achieve the goal of W2W
Introduction to W2W - PP Lecture
describing wood  ethanol  wheels
concept
Standards
B1.1B,
B1.1E,
B1.1h,
B1.2E,
B1.2f,
B1.2g,
B4.2f,
B4.2h,
B4.r2i ,
B4.r5a
90 min
TOTAL
Lesson Two: Are tree crowns a
sustainable source of bioenergy?
Materials Needed
-Wood-to-Wheels: Converting Biomass to
Biofuels PowerPoint
-Projector
-Science Notebooks
-Projector
-Science Notebooks
Predicting the Future Energy Benefits of
Trees – Students read a scientific article
(MS level) comparing potential wood E
in tree crowns – create a graph of the
data and identify the conclusion
M
45 min
-Students will be able to create and
analyze a graph from a data table
from the findings section of a
simplified scientific article to reach a
conclusion
Peer-reviewed journal articles #1 Students read the scientific article
Predicting the Future Energy Benefits of
Trees was based on – identify the
evidence and conclusion
T
45 min
-Students will be able to analyze a
graph and look for statistical
significance in a peer-reviewed
scientific article to reach a
conclusion
-Students will be able to use the
evidence presented in scientific
articles to draw a conclusion
regarding the potential use of tree
crowns as a sustainable source of
bioenergy
B1.1B,
B1.1E,
B1.1g,
B1.1h,
B1.2C,
B1.2D,
B1.2f
B1.2g
B1.2i,
Math CC:
Practice 4,
S-ID.1,
S-ID.3,
S-ID.5,
S-ID.6,
S-IC.5,
S-IC.6
-Class copies of article
-Class copies of article
Lesson Three: How Can
Genetically Modified Foods be
Detected with PCR?
~12 hours
TOTAL
Part I: Plant Soybean Seeds
Plant Seeds, present Prezi showing an
example of plant transformation related
to W2W, science notebook questions
60 min
B1.1,
B1.1B,
B1.1C,
B1.1D,
B1.1E,
B1.1f,
B1.1h ,
B1.1i ,
B2.5A,
B4.2 ,
B4.2B,
B4.2C,
B4.2D ,
B4.2x,
B4.2f,
B4.2h,
B4.r2i,
B4.r5x,
B4.r5a,
B5.3,
B5.3f
Th
90 min
Part III: Amplify DNA by PCR
1) PCR Virtual Lab
2) Paper Clip PCR
F
90 min
Part III: Amplify DNA by PCR
3) Write out and discuss protocol & trip
to lab
Part IV: Analyze PCR Products by Gel
Electrophoresis
1) Gel Virtual Lab
Part III: Amplify DNA by PCR
2) LAB: Run PCR
M
45 min
-Access to the internet
-Projector
-Carolina Detecting Genetically Modified
Food by PCR Lab
-Student copies STUDENT LAB
INSTRUCTIONS (pages 5-12)
-Permanent markers
-Roundup® herbicide (optional)
-Prezi Plant Transformation
-Planting pot or flat
-Potting soil
*NOTE: Plant seeds 2-3 weeks before you
plan on isolating DNA
- Soy or corn food products
-Micropipets and tips (1 μL to 1000 μL)
-Microcentrifuge tube racks
-Microcentrifuge for 1.5-mL tube
-Water bath or heating block
-Containers with cracked or crushed ice
-Vortexer (optional)
-Roundup® herbicide (optional)
-Student copies of the Paper Clip PCR
Activity (pages 3-5)
-Small colored paper clips ( per group
blue, red, green, yellow (25 EACH) and
white (6)
No new materials
M
45 min
No new materials
M
-Thermal Cycler (PCR)
Part IV: Analyze PCR Products by Gel
T
60 min
after
school trip
to OU lab
to run PCR
30 min
Part II: Isolate DNA from Soybean and
Food Products
1) Write out and discuss protocol
Part II: Isolate DNA from Soybean and
Food Products
2) LAB: Isolate DNA
W
60 min
-Students will be able to determine
if a plant has been genetically
modified
-Students will be able to isolate
DNA, amplify DNA by PCR, and
interpret the results of gel
electrophoresis
No new materials
Electrophoresis
2) Write out and discuss protocol,
demonstrate loading
Part V: Bioinformatics
1) Complete BLAST as class
Flex time – finish any loose ends
Part IV: Analyze PCR Products by Gel
Electrophoresis
3) LAB: Analyze PCR by Gel
Electrophoresis a) Load and run
b) Stain and de-stain
c) Photograph
Results and Discussion Questions
T
60 min
-CD Rom from Carolina Kit
W
Th
60 min
90 min
F
45 min
Optional Enrichments
Unit Assessment
M
Varied
Varied
No new materials
-Micropipets and tips (1 μL to 1000 μL)
-Microcentrifuge tube racks
-Microcentrifuge for 1.5-mL tube
-Electrophoresis chambers
-Electrophoresis power supplies
-UV transilluminator (ethidium bromide
staining) OR
-White light box (CarolinaBLU™ staining,
optional)
-Camera (optional)
-Student copies RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
(pages 17-18)
Varied
90 min
All above
- Computer Lab Access