http://www.teachengineering.org/view_lesson.php?url=collection/cub_/lessons/cub_biomed/cub_biomed_lesson09.xmllessontext/xmlIntegrated Teaching and Learning Program, bioengineeringbiomedicalbiomedical engineeringbiotechnologybodydeoxyribonucleic acidDNADNA profiledouble helixgenegeneticshelixhumanhuman bodymessenger RNAmRNAproteinrecipeRNAbiomedical engineeringDNAengineergenenucleotide basesprotein synthesisribosome

As a class, students work through an example showing how DNA provides the “recipe” for making our body proteins. They see how the pattern of nucleotide bases (adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine) forms the double helix ladder shape of DNA, and serves as the code for the steps required to make genes. They also learn some ways that engineers and scientists are applying their understanding of DNA in our world.

Once it was discovered that DNA contains the instructions for making cells and proteins, the way was open for many diverse engineering applications. Genetic engineers find ways to modify the DNA of organisms to create a desired trait or protein, such as making a crop resistant to a certain herbicide or making bacteria that create human insulin. Forensic engineers use DNA evidence to help determine people’s innocence or guilt of crimes. Agricultural engineers create genetically-modified crops to enable the cultivation of food in areas poorly suited for farming. Describe DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid).Describe ways in which engineers are involved with genetics and the human body.20TeachEngineering.orgFrank BurkholderJessica ToddMalinda Schaefer ZarskeDenise W. CarlsonBlumberg, Robert B. (ed.) MendelWeb. Edition 97.1 (February 22, 1997). MendelWeb. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CodonsGenome Programs of the US Department of Energy. US Department of Energy. (Good resource for information and images)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein_biosynthesisPutting DNA to Work. Marian Koshland Science Museum of the National Academy of Sciences, The National Academies, Washington, DC. (Great DNA reference website with interactive multimedia activities and information on inherited diseases, DNA and criminal justice, infectious disease and improving crops)S11417F8International_Technology_Education_Association-ITEA_STL_StandardsTechnologyG. Advances and innovations in medical technologies are used to improve healthcare. 68S11417FBInternational_Technology_Education_Association-ITEA_STL_StandardsTechnologyJ. Genetic engineering involves modifying the structure of DNA to produce novel genetic make-ups.68S1142541ColoradoScienceb. Develop, communicate, and justify an evidence-based scientific explanation regarding the functions and interactions of the human body 77United StatesCopyright 2012 - Integrated Teaching and Learning Program, College of Engineering, University of Colorado at Boulderhttp://www.teachengineering.org/policy_ipp.phphttp://www.teachengineering.org/2012-01-207Teacher