Subject Area
Social Studies

Activity Overview
Students will learn about the history of genetic engineering by researching individuals who contributed in some way to the science of genetic engineering. Using this information, students will create a Biographical Dictionary.

Materials

Activity Outline
Assign a genetic engineering historical figure to each student.
Have students:
1. Research that person in detail including his/her contribution to GE.
2. Create a dictionary entry of that person including name, pronunciation, origin, definitions, picture, etc.
3. Put the entries together to create a class book.

Display the class book in the library

Historical Figures
Charles Darwin
Alfred Russel Wallace
Gregor Mendel
Carl Correns
Hugo de Vries
Erich von Tschermak
Harriet B. Creighton
Barbara McClintock
Oswald Avery
Colin MacLeod
Maclyn McCarty
Erwin Chargaff
Rosalind Franklin
Martha Chase
Alfred Hershey
Francis Crick
James Watson
Matthew Meselson
Frank Stahl
Hamilton Smith
Kent Wilcox
Paul Berg
Herb Boyer
Annie Chang
Stanley Cohen
Fred Sanger

Assessment
Evaluate the dictionary entries for understanding. (i.e., Does the entry accurately explain how the person contributed to the science of genetic engineering.)

Standard and Benchmarks
Historical Understanding
Standard 2: Understands the historical perspective
1. Understands that specific individuals and the values those individuals held had an impact on history
2. Analyzes the influence specific ideas and beliefs had on a period of history
3. Analyzes the effect that specific "chance events" had on history
4. Analyzes the effects specific decisions had on history
5. Understands that historical accounts are subject to change based on newly uncovered records and interpretations
6. Knows different types of primary and secondary sources and the motives, interests, and bias expressed in them (e.g., eyewitness accounts, letters, diaries, artifacts, photos; magazine articles, newspaper accounts, hearsay)