Topic: The universality of the genetic code

Target group

8th‑grade students of elementary school

Core curriculum

General requirements

I. Knowledge of biological diversity and basic biological phenomena and processes. Pupil:

2) explains biological phenomena and processes occurring in selected organisms and in the environment.

Specific requirements

V. Genetics. Pupil:

1. presents the structure and role of DNA.

General aim of education

The student will learn the most important cosquences resulting from the universality of the genetic code

Key competences

• communication in foreign languages;

• digital competence;

• learning to learn.

Criteria for success
The student will learn:

• distinguish between the terms „genetic code” and „genetic information”;

• describe the genetic code.

Methods/techniques

• expository

  • talk.

• activating

  • discussion.

• exposing

  • exposition.

• programmed

  • with computer;

  • with e‑textbook.

• practical

  • exercices concerned.

Forms of work

• individual activity;

• activity in pairs;

• activity in groups;

• collective activity.

Teaching aids

• e‑textbook;

• notebook and crayons/felt‑tip pens;

• interactive whiteboard, tablets/computers.

Lesson plan overview

Before classes

• Students get acquainted with the content of the abstract. They prepare to work on the lesson in such a way to be able to summarize the material read in their own words and solve the tasks themselves.

Introduction

• The teacher explains the aim of the lesson and together with students determines the success criteria to be achieved.

Realization

• The teacher informs students that the genetic code is universal for all organisms for which the same codons are the same amino acids. The universality of the genetic code is used in natural conditions by viruses, which by attacking other organisms, use mechanisms of replication of the host's DNA to multiply their own DNA and proteins forming the envelope of genetic material of the virus..

• The teacher presents to pupils an interactive illustration of the „Universal language of living nature” and explains that the universality of the genetic code makes it possible: to create inter‑species hybrids between closely related species - both among plants and among animals; implanting multicellular organisms with the genes of other organisms in order to improve their values or increase resistance to diseases (flowers, vegetables, cereals); the use of single‑cell organisms for the synthesis of medicinal substances produced on an industrial scale (eg insulin, some vitamins).

• The teacher introduces students to the concept of genetically modified organisms and explains that many crop plants have artificially implanted genes that cause higher yielding, better fruit stability, resistance to certain diseases and pesticides, and reduced susceptibility to accumulating harmful substances in their tissues. Nevertheless, some communities are afraid of the impact of food produced from them on human health and the total exclusion from cultivation of unmodified varieties.

• The teacher divides students into small groups and instructs each group to develop a common position in relation to foods containing genetically modified organisms and arguments for or against the introduction of such products for sale.

• Students carry out the interactive exercises checking the level of knowledge learned during the lesson. The teacher initiates a discussion during which the correct solutions for all the exercises performed by the students are discussed.

Summary

• At the end of the class, the teacher asks the students questions:

  • What did you find important and interesting in class?

  • What was easy and what was difficult?

  • How can you use the knowledge and skills you have gained today?

  Willing/selected students summarize the lesson.

Homework

• Listen to the abstract recording at home. Pay attention to pronunciation, accent and intonation. Learn to pronounce the words learned during the lesson.

The following terms and recordings will be used during this lesson

Terms

Texts and recordings

The universality of the genetic code

The genetic code is universal, i.e. the same in all organisms. This means that codons in all organisms encode the same amino acids. Knowing this, we can insert a human insulin gene into bacterial DNA to „force” the bacteria to produce the same protein as the one present in the human body. Similarly modified microorganisms are also used for the production of other proteins, e.g. growth hormone, blood clotting factors.

Organisms, whose genetic material was changed by foreign DNA, are called genetically modified organisms. The English term is often abbreviated as GMOs.

• The genetic code is universal; genetic information is encoded in all organisms in the same way.