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Genetic Engineering Research

8th Grade Science Genetic Engineering Research Project

Your Assignment

Use this LibGuide to assist you in conducting your research for your Genetic Engineering Project.
Goals:

  • Highlight two specific genetic technologies that are currently in existence using credible sources of information.
  • Compare and contrast the two genetic technologies to show how human influence of inheritance in plants and animals has changed in recent times.

To prepare for your final project:
You will select two topics to research. See the lists of possible topics listed below. 
For each topic, you must find at least two credible sources of information to use in your final project (FOUR credible sources total). Because genetics is a “hot” and frequently misunderstood topic, you will need to carefully scrutinize (examine) the sources you will be given to determine the validity of each source. You will need to explain how you selected the four sources and how you determined they each were credible sources of information. Use the tabs on the left-hand side of this page to guide your research.

Research Topics

Topic Selection #1
(Select ONE Artificial Selection topic):
Topic Selection #2
(Select ONE Gene Therapy OR 
Genetic Modification topic):
 
Artificial Selection
  • Dog breeding/domestication of wolves
  • Domestication of wild mustard (into cabbage, kale, cauliflower, broccoli, etc.)
  • Domestication of maize (corn)
  • Artificial selection in racehorses
  • Selective breeding in poultry farming (egg production, meat quality, disease resistance)
  • Artificial selection in fruit flies to study genetics and evolutionary processes
  • Artificial selection in crops for climate adaptation
  • Student choice (teacher approval required)

Gene Therapy

  • Hemophilia gene therapy
  • Cystic Fibrosis gene therapy
  • Blindness gene therapy
  • Cancer gene therapy
  • Student choice (teacher approval required)

Genetic Modification

  • Genetically modified foods (GMOs)
  • Sudden death mosquitoes
  • Genetically engineered organs
  • CRISPR & Cas9
  • Prime editing
  • Sickle Cell Anemia
  • Student choice (teacher approval required)