Name :__________
Grade 12 Biology : Molecular Genetics Project
Expectations :
Rapid advances in our understanding of molecular genetics is one of the most important developments in science. Understanding how this information will shape your world is one of the most important challenges facing humankind today.
You will examine one aspect of molecular genetics using a research project investigating five different resources.
You will prepare a product that educates the public about the importance of this aspect of molecular genetics
SUGGESTED TOPICS :
 What evidence supports the theories of DNA replication or DNA transcription or protein synthesis? Who did this work? How do we know that it is accurate?
 How was DNA discovered? What were the contributions of Miescher and/or Hershey and
Chase and/or Rosalind Franklin?
 What are jumping genes? How did Barbara McClintock discover them?
 How do cells repair DNA?
 How is DNA different in different species?
 Research one genetically modified organism? How is it used in industry or agriculture?
 How is genetic engineering used in science?
 What is the story behind any article in Discover (or any other source) about molecular genetics?
 How is DNA used in crime scene investigations? Is the television show CSI accurate?
 What is the science behind a crime show or a crime novel?
 What is cancer?
 What is the Human Genome Project? Why is it important?
 What is the science in a book like The Chrysalids, Brave New World or The Giver?
 How can we use the techniques from « Biotechnology in a Box» in the real world?
 ANY OTHER TOPIC THAT IS APPROVED BY YOUR TEACHER

A : BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR RESEARCH
Please answer the following questions on this piece of paper.
Have your teacher approve your question and sign below BEFORE you begin your research.
1.
What is your question?
2.
What do you already know about this topic?
3.
What else do you want to know about this topic?
4.
What words will you use to search for information about your topic?
TEACHER’S SIGNATURE :__________________Due Date : Friday February 27, 2004
B : WHILE YOU ARE RESEARCHING YOUR TOPIC :
5. How do you plan to research your topic? Please remember to use print (books magazines), electronic (Internet) and human (an expert) resources.
Please answer this question here.
PLEASE MAKE A SEPARATE RESEARCH SHEET FOR EACH SOURCE OF
INFORMATION THAN YOU USE. USE THE FORMAT FROM THE RESEARCH
SHEET EXEMPLAR PROVIDED.
ONLY RECORD INFORMATION THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION ON EACH
RESEARCH SHEET.

Research Sheet Exemplar
Web page address: http://radio.cbc.ca/programs/quirks/archives/02-03/may10.html
Title: Quirks and Quarks May 10, 2003. Interview with Matt Ridley. Nature vs Nurture
Author: MacDonald, B. and other writers for Quirks and Quarks (a CBC radio show)
Institution: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Year Published: 2003
How Reliable is the Information that You are Using?
Question Yes/No Details
Are the authors of the site identified? Y
What qualifications do the authors have? Bob MacDonald has 30 years experience in science journalism. He is the host of CBC Radio’s
Quirks and Quarks, the award-winning science program with a national audience of nearly 500,000 people.
He is also a regular reporter for CBC Television’s The National as well as Gemini winning host and writer of the children’s series Head’s Up.
Bob has also hosted Greatest Canadian Invention and the seven part series Water Under Fire.
McDonald has authored three science books and contributed to
Where do they work?
Does their workplace have a good reputation? numerous science textbooks, newspapers and magazines including
The Globe and Mail, Owl Magazine and many others.
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation- publicly funded
Y
Does this source credit the sources of its information?
Are there references or a bibliography provided that you can use to verify the information?
Are there links to reliable sites (or other sources) where the accuracy of the information can be confirmed?
What is the goal of the site? What is it trying to convince you of?
Are any stereotypes being promoted?
Y
Y
Reference to Matt Ridley’s book is included
Is the language professional and appropriate?
To provide reliable information for Canadians about a different issues
N
Y
Does the site use proper grammar, spelling and punctuation?
Y
My Question: How do genes affect your behaviour?
I can cut and paste information directly from my source IF it helps me to answer my question. I can cut and past
What is it that makes a human being? Are we creatures whose essence is innate, whose personalities, skills, strengths and weaknesses are determined by qualities inside of us? Or are we blank slates, our minds constructed and our minds developed from influences outside of us, through the experiences of our growth and learning? Is what we are determined by nature or nurture? A great deal of scientific research has gone into understanding our minds, our behaviour, and our bodies -- especially our genes.
Science writer Matt Ridley has weighed in with a new book on the subject, called "Nature via Nurture." In it he points out that much of what we're learning implies that Nature and Nurture are not separate. Their interaction is what builds us. Development is programmed by genes, but directed by environment.
Environmental stimuli influence the way genes work by the day, hour and minute. Nature and Nurture continually interact, subtly determining what it is we become, and how we behave. It turns out that the old dichotomy - either or - is really more of a complex mushy middle.

D : AFTER YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR RESEARCH
 PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ON A SEPARATE
PIECE OF PAPER.
 USE COMPLETE SENTENCES AND APPROPRIATE GRAMMER.
 PLEASE REFERENCE ALL OF THE INFORMATION YOU USE TO SHOW
WHERE YOU FOUND IT!
 USE THE REFERENCE SHEET FROM THE RESOURCE CENTRE AS AN
EXEMPLAR
7. Summarize the most important information that you found.
8. How is the information that you found related to what we covered in class?

E. YOUR PRODUCT : Share the results of your research in ANY format you choose from the following options. Answer the following questions on this sheet.
9. What format will you use? Why?
10. Who is your audience?
E : ASSESSMENT AND DUE DATES
Project Component
Question
First Research Sheet
All Research Sheets
Summary
Product Format Approved
Completed and Checked by……
Thurs Feb 21, 2007
Wed Feb 28, 2007
Fri March 2 (ideally) or
Mon March 5, 2007
Tues March 2, 2007
Wed April 9, 2007
Teachers’ signature
SUGGESTED DUE DATE : PLEASE SUBMIT ALL OF THE COMPONENTS OF YOUR
PROJECT AND THE FOLLOWING CHECKLIST BY THURSDAY MARCH 8, 2007
FINAL DUE DATE : MONDAY MARCH 19, 2007

Please complete the following assessment and submit it with your project.
A : BEFORE I BEGAN MY RESEARCH
I answered all of the questions in this section
Self
B : WHILE I WAS RESEARCHING MY TOPIC
I completed five research sheets
I clearly identified each source of information
 For a web page I included complete address, institute, author, year updated
 For a book or article I included the author(s), title, year published, where it was published and the company that published it
I only recorded information that answered my question on each research sheet
I used the checklist provided to assess bias for each source
I described my assessment of bias for each source in a brief paragraph at the bottom of each research sheet
C : AFTER I COMPLETED MY RESEARCH
I wrote a 1-2 page summary of my information to answer Question 7
All of my information was properly referenced
I included a bibliography
I related my findings to material that we covered in class when I answered Question 8
Rubric for the Research Portion of My Project
RESEARCH
Information
1 : (50-59)
I provided information with
LIMITED clarity
2 (60-69)
I provided information with
MODERATE clarity
3 : (70-79)
I provided information with
CONSIDERABLE clarity
Details
Organization
I give details with
LIMITED consistency
I present ideas with
LIMITED organization
I give details with
SOME consistency
I present ideas with
SOME consistency
I give details with
CONSIDERABLE consistency
I present ideas with
CONSIDERABLE organization
E. My Product
I included information from different sources
My product educates the public
My product is thoughtful and thought provoking
Rubric for My Product
PRODUCT
Information
Details
Organization
Spelling/Grammar and Punctuation
Communication
1 : (50-59)
I provide information with LIMITED clarity
I give details with
LIMITED consistency
I present ideas with
LIMITED organization
Use with LIMITED accuracy numerous errors
I communicate with
LIMITED sense of audience/purpose
2 (60-69)
I provide information with MODERATE clarity
I give details with
SOME consistency
I present ideas with
SOME consistency
Use with SOME accuracy : some errors
I communicate with
SOME sense of audience/purpose
3 : (70-79)
I provide information with CONSIDERABLE clarity
I give details with
CONSIDERABLE consistency
I present ideas with
CONSIDERABLE organization
Use with
CONSIDERABLE accuracy : occasional errors
I communicate with
CONSIDERABLE sense of audience/purpose
Self
Teacher
4 : (80-100)
I provided information with a
HIGH degree of clarity
I give details with a
HIGH degree of consistency
I present ideas with a
HIGH degree of organization
Teacher
4 : (80-100)
I provide information with a HIGH degree of clarity
I giive details with
HIGH degree of consistency
I present ideas with a
HIGH degree of organization
Use with HIGH degree of accuracy : no errors
I communicate with
STRONG sense of audience/purpose