Current Developments in Biology

This unit bundles student expectations that address the concepts that are the focus of modern biological research. Students should approach this unit through the lens of TEKS B.3D, “Evaluate the impact of research on scientific thought, society, and the environment,” and TEKS B.3F, “Research and describe the history of biology and contributions of scientists,” with an emphasis on recent history. Students will research methods that scientists are using to correct disruptions in the cell cycle and the fight to cure cancer, including the use of gene expression. Students will research the latest developments in the fight against microorganisms that are resistant to medicine. Students will research how modern genetic techniques are changing the hierarchical classifications of the largest taxonomic groups and shaping our understanding of Biology.

ASSIGNMENT 1: Imagine you are the social media specialist for a science news website. Genetics is the focus this month at the website. Your current assignment is to find two stories that explain genetic breakthroughs as they relate to human health. The first story must be about cancer research. The second story must be about the fight against deadly diseases caused by microorganisms. You are expected to summarize each story in 280 characters or less (2 tweets) in a way that any high school educated person could understand and post them on all of the major social media websites (e.g., Twitter, Instagram, etc.). Prepare your final draft with the original news sources of your summaries, and submit them to your editor for review and approval.


(Remember: plagiarism = unemployment).

ASSIGNMENT 2: Scientific discovery throughout the centuries has caused major changes in the classification of organisms into the largest categories in the taxonomic system. As an illustrator for a textbook company, you have been given the task of creating a diagram that shows the revisions to the large taxonomic groups over time. With each change to the large taxonomic classifications, write a brief description of the scientific discoveries that led to the changes. List each taxonomic group included in each of the following taxonomic system revisions:

  • Two Kingdom System
  • Three Kingdom System
  • Four Kingdom System
  • Five Kingdom System
  • Six Kingdom System
  • Three Domain System
  • The Modern Debate over Protists

Design your diagram and descriptions to fit on one page of the textbook. The diagram should be easy to read and understand by high school biology students. Submit your final diagram to your publisher for review.