WV State Standards: Forensic Science, Biology: FS.2.1, FS.2.2, FS.2.5, FS.2.7, FS.5.2, FS.5.3, FS.6.1, FS.6.4 National Standards:  Science: Standard 13 Blooms Taxonomy: Knowledge, Comprehension, Application, Analysis, Synthesis, Evaluation 21st Century Skills: Creativity and intellectual curiosity, Critical thinking and systems thinking, Problem identification, formulation, and solution, Thinking and problem-solving skills, Communication skills, Information and media literacy skills, Interpersonal and collaborative skills, Social responsibility, Self-direction, Accountability and adaptability

Objective(s)

Students will

• formulate a personal view on the social and ethical issues that arise from the use of biometric identification methods
• formulate a description of the ethical use of human DNA as a biometric identification method
• use electrophoresis to analyze DNA patterns

Time Required

3 - 50 minute class periods.

Pre-Requisite Skills

Internet search skills, lab skills.

21st Century Tools (Technology Tools)

Computer with Internet access

Instructional Materials

Completed worksheet from Lesson I (Biometric Web search),  Ethics in Biometrics handout

Procedure

1. Begin discussion of ethics:
       What are ethics?
       How could ethics relate to the field of biometrics?
2. Students need their completed worksheet from Lesson I
      Then, give them the Ethics in Biometrics handout.
3. Using Internet and completed worksheet from Lesson I, students find requested information. This web site (listed on their handout) may be useful.
4. After worksheet completion, continue discussion of ethical considerations in biometric identification.
5. Steer discussion toward using human DNA as an ID method.
6. Students work in pairs or small groups to formulate:
      A description of the ethical use of human DNA as a biometric identification method.
      Their personal view on the social and ethical issues associated with DNA biometric identification.
7. Allow/encourage students to share and discuss their descriptions with one another.
8. The DNA lab - Lab: DNA Fingerprinting (BioRad)
      The kit and instructions are available on the above web site
      Depending on students' ability level or your school's lack of equipment, the electrophoresis lab    may not be feasible.  Here are some  DNA extraction
      labs on the Internet.  They give a complete list of needed (and easy to acquire) materials, and       easy to follow directions.
     Cherry DNA Lab
     DNA Extraction from Wheat Germ

Differentiated Instruction

Pair students who may experience difficulty with a higher achieving student.  Also, the teacher/facilitator should check on student's progress as lesson progresses. Advanced learners would definitely benefit from the DNA electrophoresis lab.

Collaboration

This might be a suitable lesson to link with social studies.  If the DNA Fingerprinting lab is chosen, it could be easily combined with math.

21st Century Assessment/Evaluation

A rubric is not included with this lesson since students' ideas are subjective.  If the DNA Fingerprinting lab is chosen, then, the individual teacher will most likely assess the same way he/she normally grades a lab activity.