Selective Breeding Research Task (Intended vs. Non-Intended Outcomes)
In this activity students are required to research at least two examples where the evolutionary pathway of a species has been altered by anthropogenic effects and discuss how the specific outcomes may have been intended by humans or not. The topic of this assignment has been set quite broadly allowing students a larger degree of freedom to choose their subject matter and also the manner in which they choose to present their work. An example of a research topic would be to examine two breeds of dogs (or other domesticated animal) and explore the genetic traits that have been encouraged (e.g. small stature of den dogs) and those that have occurred as a by-product of selective breeding (e.g. inability of some bulldogs to give birth naturally). In another example students may case study where the environmental effects caused by humans may affect the fitness of a species to survive and though this tends to conjure images of species endangerment or extinction, the affects to a particular species may not always be negative.
Assessment:
This task should be 500 word equivilant but the means of presentation is flexible and as such, formative assessment will be of a qualitative nature.
CURRICULUM MAP
Learning Activity
Skills
Assessment
Selective Breeding Research Task
'Investigate and enquire scientifically.
Apply biological understandings.
Communicate biological understandings'
see above
Area of Study
Key Knowledge
Learning Outcomes
2 - Change Over Time
'Human intervention in the evolutionary process; selective breeding.
Patterns of evolution: extinction'
'...consider how...human, cultural and technological evolution may have affected evolutionary processes...'
Selective Breeding Research Task (Intended vs. Non-Intended Outcomes)
In this activity students are required to research at least two examples where the evolutionary pathway of a species has been altered by anthropogenic effects and discuss how the specific outcomes may have been intended by humans or not. The topic of this assignment has been set quite broadly allowing students a larger degree of freedom to choose their subject matter and also the manner in which they choose to present their work. An example of a research topic would be to examine two breeds of dogs (or other domesticated animal) and explore the genetic traits that have been encouraged (e.g. small stature of den dogs) and those that have occurred as a by-product of selective breeding (e.g. inability of some bulldogs to give birth naturally). In another example students may case study where the environmental effects caused by humans may affect the fitness of a species to survive and though this tends to conjure images of species endangerment or extinction, the affects to a particular species may not always be negative.
Assessment:
This task should be 500 word equivilant but the means of presentation is flexible and as such, formative assessment will be of a qualitative nature.
CURRICULUM MAP
Apply biological understandings.
Communicate biological understandings'
Patterns of evolution: extinction'