What Can Pigs Teach Us About Human Influence on Genetic Traits?

Characteristics of domestic pigs have changed to meet consumer demands, how they are used, and production systems.

Objectives

  • Students will develop and defend an argument for the importance of a natural, renewable resource (pigs) in creating life-saving medications and products.

  • Students will gain a deeper understanding of how the pig, as a natural resource, can be used to aid in the needs of humans as our populations grow.

  • Students will understand the importance of developing and creating products from renewable resources that can have positive impacts on survival.

Kentucky Academic Standards

NGSS

  • MS.LS4-5. Gather and synthesize information about the technologies that have changed the way humans influence the inheritance of desired traits in organisms.

ELA/Literacy Standards

  • WHST.6-8.8 Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, using search terms effectively; assess the credibility and accuracy of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation.

Supplies/Resources

Instructions

  1. Ask students to read the information on Student Project 1.

  2. Find the list of pig breeds in the presentation, and assign students or groups a unique breed. Ask students to research their breed using the Internet and record the information they find. Once the research has been completed, have students report their findings to their classmates.

  3. Students should then be asked to classify each breed as a modern livestock breed, heritage livestock breed, or pet-type breed and explain the traits that lead them to that classification. Livestock breeds will be used primarily for food. A heritage breed is one that was once popular but is now less common as farms work toward efficiency and producing a consistent product.

  4. They may also want to create a breed development timeline.

  5. Provide students with additional links to articles to read and use the questions to encourage discussion. We will provide a list

  6. EXTENSION: Assign the “Create a Genetically Modified Pig” activity. You may want to spend some time discussing genetic modification first. Links to resources can be found in the presentation. A grading rubric is provided. This activity was modified from the Create a Genetically Modified Organism lesson by Leslie Meredith.

CurriculumJennifer ElwellPigScience, Science-Secondary