South Dakota Science MS-LS4-5

ScienceGrades 6–8Life Science

The Standard

Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about how technological advances have changed the way humans influence the inheritance of desired traits in organisms. (SEP: 8; DCI: LS4.B, CCC: Cause/Effect) Alignment may include MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-4

South Dakota Science Standards (2024) · Biological Unity and Diversity

Teacher's field guide

What This Standard Means

What Students Need to Do: Students compare information about tools such as DNA tests and gene editing. They explain how these tools help people influence traits that offspring may inherit. They check whether the evidence supports a claim.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can explain how DNA tests help breeders choose parents likely to pass on a trait. They can explain that editing DNA can change an inherited trait. They use offspring data to check a claim, rather than assuming every offspring will have the trait.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think choosing parents changes the parents' DNA. They may think editing a leaf means the plant's offspring will inherit the change. They may accept a seed ad's promise without checking offspring data.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: A breeder uses a DNA test to choose tomato parents with a disease-resistance gene. How might this affect their offspring, and what data would test the claim?

Lesson moves

Ways to Teach It

Give groups two-bead parent cups, with red as dominant resistance; choose parents, draw and replace one bead per cup ten times, tally resistant offspring.
Ask: A seed company claims every plant from its disease-resistant tomatoes will resist disease. What offspring data would convince you?
Give pairs cards labeled selective breeding, DNA testing, and gene editing; race to match them with parent choice, gene screening, and DNA changes.
Show a disease-resistant tomato seed catalog listing; students note the claimed trait and write one question for the seller about offspring performance.

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