Desirable Breeding Traits in Cattle

Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

Subject Area

Science

Grade(s)

7

Overview

Cows have adapted to an incredible range of environments as they have provided people with milk, meat, leather, and draft power. As a response to the many uses and habitats of cattle, a wide variety of breeds have been developed. Breeders of beef and dairy cattle carefully select cows from known breeds that will yield the most meat and milk. In this video from Nature, learn about the most desirable traits in both beef and dairy cows.

Science (2015) Grade(s): 7

SC15.7.14

Gather and synthesize information regarding the impact of technologies (e.g., hand pollination, selective breeding, genetic engineering, genetic modification, gene therapy) on the inheritance and/or appearance of desired traits in organisms.

UP:SC15.7.14

Vocabulary

  • Technology (e.g., hand pollination, selective breeding, genetic engineering, genetic modification, gene therapy)
  • Inheritance
  • Traits
  • Synthesize
  • Bias
  • Credibility
  • Accuracy
  • Probability

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Through technologies, humans have the capacity to influence certain characteristics of organisms.
  • One can choose desired parental traits determined by genes, which are then passed to offspring.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Gather information about multiple technologies that have changed the way humans influence the inheritance and/or appearance of desired traits in organisms.
  • Use multiple appropriate and reliable sources of information for investigating each technology.
  • Assess the credibility, accuracy, and possible bias of each publication and method used in the information they gather.
  • Use their knowledge of artificial selection and additional sources to describe how the information they gather is or is not supported by evidence.
  • Synthesize the information from multiple sources to provide examples of how technologies have changed the ways that humans are able to influence the inheritance of desired traits in organisms.
  • Use the information to identify and describe how a better understanding of cause-and-effect relationships in how traits occur in organisms has led to advances in technology that provide a higher probability of being able to influence the inheritance of desired traits in organisms.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Cause-and-effect relationships in how traits occur in organisms has led to advances in technology that provide a higher probability of being able to influence the inheritance of desired traits in organisms.

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Crosscutting Concepts

Cause and Effect

CR Resource Type

Audio/Video

Resource Provider

PBS

License Type

Custom

Accessibility

Video resources: includes closed captioning or subtitles
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