BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH
ASSIGNMENT
DUE DATE:
During this semester you will be introduced to the area of Biotechnology. Biotechnology is essential to our
survival. It involves using plants, animals and micro-organisms to create products that are useful to us.
Traditional biotechnology has been slow to effect change, and has mostly involved careful selection and
breeding of closely related species. In contrast, the gene technology involved in modern biotechnology allows
us to rapidly move genetic material from one species to almost any other species we like.
The genetic code found in all organisms is made of DNA. It has the same basic structure, whether it’s in
humans, plants, bacteria or fungi, so it can be cut and moved from one to another without much problem. This
way we can transfer ‘recipes’ for characteristics that help plants, animals or micro-organisms grow better or
make particular substances we need.
At first glance, biotechnology seems to hold the key to curing diseases, feeding the starving masses and solving
crimes. But there are many ethical issues that need to be resolved, and not only by scientists. People from
every walk of life, including students of Robina State High School should be informed and involved in decisions
about the future of biotechnology.
The underlying basis of this written report is to enable students to research, synthesise information and
communicate effectively a report on one of the following issues:

Research should continue into cloning and transgenics

Everyone should have their genes mapped out at birth

Genetic engineers are playing God

Food for consumption should be allowed to be genetically modified

All people arrested by the police should be forced to supply DNA samples

Parents should be allowed to clone their children

Extinct species should be recreated using DNA fragments

People with a disease / disability should be forced to undergo gene therapy.
RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT CRITERIA


Your written presentation will take no longer than 1200 words.
You must include a word count in the box indicated on the criteria sheet.

There are two key features that you need to include in your research assignment:
1. You are required to critically examine your topic in terms of the case for and against.
2. You are then required to make a personal judgement and argue your position on your chosen topic
whether it is for the case or against.
Your argument must be scientifically valid and refer to your research as presented in the critical
evaluation of the topic.



You will need to show evidence of research by including in the body of your work appropriate references to
the variety of resources that you will need to use.
A variety of resources includes a minimum of 5 resources that have been compiled from books, journals and
the Internet (it does not mean all 5 from the Internet).
Referencing will be based on the following Harvard Style.
AUTHOR’S NAME. (DATE OF PUBLICATION).
TITLE OF THE BOOK. PLACE PUBLISHED : NAME OF PUBLISHER
e.g. Huxley, L. & Walter, M. (1998). Biology An Australian Perspective.
New York:Oxford University Press.
References throughout the body of the work will include … author, date e.g. (Huxley & Walter, 1998).
Please refer to your student organiser for appropriate referencing.
ASSIGNMENT
TOPIC:
Biotechnology
LENGTH:
1000-1200 words handed in as a neatly presented, computer typed assignment.
PRESENTATION:
Neatly stapled pages, (including the sheet containing student details (deadlines and
assessment criteria page).
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
TASK
RESEARCH
ORGANISATION
Language
ORGANISATION
Word Count
REFERENCING
Appropriate style
REFERENCING
Variety includes 5
resources
5
4
3
Report deals
comprehensively
with relevant detail
Excellent use of
language and
grammar
Word count
between
1000-1200 words
All work fully
referenced in the
body of the work
and in bibliography
Report covers
relevant detail
A variety of 5
resources included
A variety of 4
resources included
Good use of
language and
grammar
Word count
between
900-1300 words
All work fully
referenced with
minor errors in the
body of the work
and in bibliography
2
Report deals
adequately with
relevant detail
Satisfactory use of
language and
grammar
Word count
between
800-1400 words
All work adequately
referenced in the
body of the work
and in bibliography
A variety of 3
resources included
/25
RESULT
TASK
WORD COUNT:
Report deals
superficially with
relevant detail
Poor use of
language and
grammar
Word count
between
700-1500 words
All work
superficially
referenced in both
sections or
bibliography only
included
A variety of 2
resources included
5
4
3
2
Excellent critical
examination of both
cases
Good critical
examination of both
cases
Satisfactory critical
examination of both
cases
MAKING
JUDGEMENT
Excellent argument,
includes scientific
validation
Good argument,
includes scientific
validation
Satisfactory
argument, includes
scientific validation
Poor critical
examination of both
cases, or one case
only presented
Poor argument,
includes some
scientific validation
/10
0
Report does not
deal with relevant
detail
Not submitted
Only 1 resource
included
No references
included
Not submitted
No references
included
/5
OVERALL RESULT
CRITICAL
EXAMINATION
RESULT
1
Report deals
inadequately with
relevant detail
Very poor use of
language and
grammar
Word count
between
<400->1500 words
Work is
inadequately
referenced in the
body of the work
and in bibliography
OVERALL RESULT
1
0
Very poor
examination of one
or both cases
Not presented
Very poor argument,
lacks scientific
validation
Not presented
/5