DNA Interactive is a great website with interactive lessons about genetics, biotechnology and DNA. Created by the DNA Learning Center, the website allows students to learn the basics of DNA and genetic manipulation through interactive modules, articles and mini-games. Additionally, there are teacher lessons, activities and answer keys available on the website that can be modified to fit your curriculum.

Students read a scientific article about a research study done in India about genetically modified cotton.  Upon finishing the article student answer a number of literacy based questions about the article to both assess their vocabulary and understanding of the content of the article.  This is a great quick assignment to allow students to practice literacy as well as introducing them to a higher level reading material.  

Students research and construct an oral debate about a topic related to Genetically Modified Organisms.

Students will read and evaluate different perspectives related to the Green Revolution and analyze how different perspectives can shape the public´s perception of agriculture and biotechnology.  Students read different articles written about the Green Revolution and answer questions to encourage them to interpret the meaning behind each article.  I use small and large group discussions after students read the articles to also stimuate discussion in my classroom about perceptions of the public.  You can extend this activity by having students conduct surveys or additional reseach about more recent topics related to biotechnology and find other articles that showcase different sides of an issue.  

Students learn about restriction enzymes and how they work through this lesson.  First they will use an interactive website to see how the restriction enzymes locate their cut sites on the DNA and then actually cut the DNA, so it can be combined with other DNA to make a recombinant organism.  Then they use two additional worksheets to practice ¨cutting DNA¨ on paper.  Then they conduct the Restriction Enzyme Activity, where they write out a DNA strand on paper and physically cut the DNA using scissors to create their own recombinant strand of DNA.  

Teacher´s version of the Learn.Genetics website. Includes teaching modules and curriculum modules on various topics related to genetics and cell biology. Modules contain lesson plans, student objectives and handouts/instructions to assist the teacher with presenting the materials to students.