GENETIC ENGINEERING GIZMO: ACTIVITY A | ACCURATE AND VERIFIED
Name: Date:
Genetic Engineering Gizmo: Activity A
Directions: Always enter a Gizmo from the Module in Canvas. Use the Gizmos link there. Make sure you
are using Chrome and have first signed into HCPSS.me. Follow the instructions to go through the simulation.
Respond to the questions and prompts in the boxes. No need for complete sentences but make sure your
answers are clear and make sense.
Vocabulary: callus, exon, genetic engineering, genetically modified organism, genome, green fluorescent
protein (GFP), herbicide, insecticide, intron, promoter, transcription, transformation
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1. What are some things that can damage a farmer’s crops?
Bacteria and different insects. As well as birds and other small mammals.
2. What can farmers do to protect their crops?
They may use sprays and in different locations, they use indoor farming as it’s becoming very
popular although it is a bit more expensive
Gizmo Warm-up
Many farmers use chemical herbicides to kill weeds and
insecticides to kill insects. Using genetic engineering,
scientists have developed ways to resist harmful crop pests.
In the Genetic Engineering Gizmo, you will use genetic
engineering techniques to create genetically modified corn.
Check that Task 1 is selected. The Gizmo shows petri dishes that contain different strains of bacteria (white
dots) and caterpillars (Lepidoptera sp. larvae). These larvae will grow into caterpillars that eat corn plants.
In the first challenge, your goal is to find bacteria that produce toxins that kill the caterpillars. Click Play ( ).
1. What do you observe?
A small number of the caterpillars died while most were able to survive.
2. a. Which strains of bacteria were able to kill Lepidoptera sp. larvae?
Strains 4,5,8 and 10
b. Were some more effective than others? Explain.
Other caterpillars were killed off meaning it affected some a lot more than other.
● A strain of bacteria is a group of bacteria that are all the same species, but have slightly different traits.
This would be like a group of humans that differ in hair color or how tall they are. There is a range of
traits in each species which makes some organisms capable of doing things that the others can’t.
● Some bacteria are able to produce a toxin that kills Lepidoptera sp. larvae.
● In order to produce the toxin, the bacteria must have the right instructions to make it within their DNA.
● Find out which gene is responsible for this toxin in the next step.
Name: Date:
Genetic Engineering Gizmo: Activity A
Directions: Always enter a Gizmo from the Module in Canvas. Use the Gizmos link there. Make sure you
are using Chrome and have first signed into HCPSS.me. Follow the instructions to go through the simulation.
Respond to the questions and prompts in the boxes. No need for complete sentences but make sure your
answers are clear and make sense.
Vocabulary: callus, exon, genetic engineering, genetically modified organism, genome, green fluorescent
protein (GFP), herbicide, insecticide, intron, promoter, transcription, transformation
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1. What are some things that can damage a farmer’s crops?
Bacteria and different insects. As well as birds and other small mammals.
2. What can farmers do to protect their crops?
They may use sprays and in different locations, they use indoor farming as it’s becoming very
popular although it is a bit more expensive
Gizmo Warm-up
Many farmers use chemical herbicides to kill weeds and
insecticides to kill insects. Using genetic engineering,
scientists have developed ways to resist harmful crop pests.
In the Genetic Engineering Gizmo, you will use genetic
engineering techniques to create genetically modified corn.
Check that Task 1 is selected. The Gizmo shows petri dishes that contain different strains of bacteria (white
dots) and caterpillars (Lepidoptera sp. larvae). These larvae will grow into caterpillars that eat corn plants.
In the first challenge, your goal is to find bacteria that produce toxins that kill the caterpillars. Click Play ( ).
1. What do you observe?
A small number of the caterpillars died while most were able to survive.
2. a. Which strains of bacteria were able to kill Lepidoptera sp. larvae?
Strains 4,5,8 and 10
b. Were some more effective than others? Explain.
Other caterpillars were killed off meaning it affected some a lot more than other.
● A strain of bacteria is a group of bacteria that are all the same species, but have slightly different traits.
This would be like a group of humans that differ in hair color or how tall they are. There is a range of
traits in each species which makes some organisms capable of doing things that the others can’t.
● Some bacteria are able to produce a toxin that kills Lepidoptera sp. larvae.
● In order to produce the toxin, the bacteria must have the right instructions to make it within their DNA.
● Find out which gene is responsible for this toxin in the next step.
