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Science at key stage 3    (Year 9)

Unit 9A: Inheritance and selection
Section 10: Are varieties produced by selective breeding different from each other?

QCA

Objectives
Children should learn:
  • to frame questions to be investigated
  • to choose an appropriate sample size
  • to decide what methods and apparatus to use
  • to draw conclusions and evaluate these

Activities

Outcomes
Children:
  • Ask pupils to investigate effects of selective breeding in plants, eg by comparing the characteristics of garden peas of different varieties in terms of size, mass, colour, taste, cooking time. Ask pupils to report on variation within each variety and to provide comparisons between the varieties. Different groups could investigate different questions and pool the results. Invite pupils to make value judgements on the 'best' type of pea.
  • decide on a question or questions to investigate, eg Do frozen peas weigh less than fresh peas?
  • decide on a suitable sample, eg 50 peas
  • choose a method appropriate to the question
  • state conclusions, indicating the strength of the evidence, in terms of a comparison of variation within and between varieties and in terms of sample size

Points to note
  • Frozen peas and fresh peas could be used to provide different varieties.
  • A comparison of two varieties of potato could be used as an alternative.
  • Teachers may wish to extend the work to consider GMOs, explaining that this is a form of breeding where the genetic information carried by the parents is modified by inserting a different gene. This results in particular characteristics thought desirable, but long-term effects on other organisms are not clear.

Sections in this unit

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This unit is divided into sections. Each section contains a sequence of activities with related objectives and outcomes. You can view this unit by moving through the sections or print/download the whole unit.
1. What characteristics can be inherited?
2. Why are offspring of the same parents similar but not identical?
3. a. How do differences between offspring with the same parents compare with differences between offspring of different parents?
4. b. How do differences between offspring with the same parents compare with differences between offspring of different parents?
5. How are new breeds of animal produced?
6. Checking progress
7. Why do farmers produce new breeds of animals?
8. a. How are new varieties of plant produced?
9. b. How are new varieties of plant produced?
10. Are varieties produced by selective breeding different from each other?
11. What is a clone?
12. Reviewing work