UNIT LESSON PLAN #1: DNA & RNA

This is university level preparation lesson plan designed to assist and equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to meet some of the entrance requirements for university programs.  Academic level grade 11 biology is a prerequisite for this lesson plan.  The objective of this lesson plan is to introduce grade 12 students in detail the structure and function of genetic molecules.

The standards to be met by this unit lesson plan are specified under the curricular content for New York State schools, and are also included in the content in reading, writing, mathematics, as well as science that is assessed as part of New York State�s compliance with the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act (Standards-Based Accountability).  At the national level, nearly every discipline has a national organization which has identified standards providing recommended content for their subject areas.

All teachers teaching this unit are mandated by the NCLB Act to meet the New York State requirement, based on their current certification accreditation as qualified teachers for �Science� or �Biology�.  Furthermore, to be deemed highly qualified, Science or Biology teachers must have: 1) a bachelor�s degree in Science (B.Sc.), 2) full New York State Certification or Licensure, and 3) prove that they know each subject they teach.  The NCLB Act also requires New York State to adopt goals and plans to ensure all teachers are highly qualified and, publicly report plans and progress in meeting teacher quality goals.
The New York Standard(s) to be met by this Biology unit, and held accountable in accordance with the No Child Left Behind Act, includes:

NEW YORK STANDARD #4:
The Physical Setting: Students will understand and apply scientific concepts, principles, and theories pertaining to the physical setting and living environment and recognize the historical development of ideas in science.
Key Idea 2: Organisms inherit genetic information in a variety of ways that result in continuity of structure and function between parents and offspring.
1.    Performance Indicator 2.2: Explain how the technology of genetic engineering allows humans to alter genetic makeup of organisms.  Major understandings include:
      a.    2.2b: In recent years new varieties of farm plants and animals have been engineered by manipulating their genetic instruction to produce new characteristics.
      b.    2.2c: Different enzymes can be used to cut, copy, and move segments of DNA.  Characteristics produced by the segments of DNA may be expressed when these segments are inserted into new organisms, such as bacteria.
      c.    2.2d: Inserting, deleting, or substituting DNA segments can alter genes.  An altered gene may be passed on to every cells that develops from it.
      d.    2.2e: Knowledge of genetics is making possible new fields of health care; for example, finding genes which may have mutations that can cause disease will aid in the development of preventive measures to fight disease.  Substances, such as hormones and enzymes, from genetically engineered organisms may reduce the cost and side effects of replacing missing body chemicals.

OVERVIEW
- Genetic information is stored in DNA
- Genetic information is transferred from DNA to RNA during transcription and from RNA to protein during translation
- Mutation is a change in the sequence of RNA or DNA
- Mutations are necessary for evolution to occur
- Gene expression is regulated by complex mechanisms in all organisms