KS4 Kew scientist

4.6.2 Variation and evolution

4.6.2.3 Selective breeding

Students should be able to explain the impact of selective breeding of food plants and domesticated animals.

4.6.2.4 Genetic engineering

Students should be able to describe genetic engineering as a process which involves modifying the genome of an organism by introducing a gene from another organism to give a desired characteristic.

Plant crops have been genetically engineered to be resistant to diseases or to produce bigger better fruits.

Students should be able to explain the potential benefits and risks of genetic engineering in agriculture and in medicine and that some people have objections.

4.7.5 Food production

4.7.5.1 Factors affecting food security

Students should be able to describe some of the biological factors affecting levels of food security. Food security is having enough food to feed a population.

4.7.5.4 Role of biotechnology

Students should be able to describe and explain some possible biotechnical and agricultural solutions, including genetic modification, to the demands of the growing human population.

Skills

• Appreciate the power and limitations of science, and consider any ethical issues that may arise.
• Explain every day and technological applications of science; evaluate associated personal, social, economic and environmental implications; and make decisions based on the evaluation of evidence and arguments

Geography
3.2.3.1 Resource management

The changing demand and provision of resources in the UK create opportunities and challenges.

Food:

• the growing demand for high-value food exports from low income countries and all-year demand for seasonal food and organic produce
• larger carbon footprints due to the increasing number of ‘food miles’ travelled, and moves towards local sourcing of food

3.2.3.2 Food

Areas of surplus (security) and deficit (insecurity):

• global patterns of calorie intake and food supply
• reasons for increasing food consumption: economic development, rising population
• factors affecting food supply: climate, technology, pests and disease, water stress, conflict, poverty.

Overview of strategies to increase food supply:

• irrigation, aeroponics and hydroponics, the new green revolution and use of biotechnology, appropriate technology

Moving towards a sustainable resource future:

• the potential for sustainable food supplies: organic farming, permaculture, urban farming initiatives, fish and meat from sustainable sources, seasonal food consumption, reduced waste and losses

Topic 4: Natural selection and genetic modification

4.8 Explain selective breeding and its impact on food plants and domesticated animals

4.10 Describe genetic engineering as a process which involves modifying the genome of an organism to introduce desirable characteristics

4.12B Explain the advantages and disadvantages of genetic engineering to produce GM organisms including the modification of crop plants, including the introduction of genes for insect resistance from Bacillus thuringiensis into crop plants

4.13B Explain the advantages and disadvantages of agricultural solutions to the demands of a growing human population, including use of fertilisers and biological control

4.14 Evaluate the benefits and risks of genetic engineering and selective breeding in modern agriculture and medicine, including practical and ethical implications

Topic 9: Ecosystems and material cycles:

9.11B  Describe the biological factors affecting levels of food security, including:

a) increasing human population

b) increasing animal farming and the increased meat and fish consumption

c) the impact of new pests and pathogens

d) environmental change caused by human activity

e) sustainability issues, e.g. use of land for biofuel production and the cost of agricultural inputs

Skills

• Appreciate the power and limitations of science, and consider any ethical issues that may arise.
• Explain every day and technological applications of science; evaluate associated personal, social, economic and environmental implications; and make decisions based on the evaluation of evidence and arguments

B6.2: Feeding the human race:

B6.2a describe some of the biological factors affecting levels of food security.

To include: increasing human population, changing diets in wealthier populations, new pests and pathogens, environmental change, sustainability and cost of agricultural inputs

B6.2b describe and explain some possible agricultural solutions to the demands of the growing human population. To include:

increased use of hydroponics, biological control, gene technology, fertilisers and pesticides

B6.2c explain the impact of the selective breeding of food plants and domesticated animals

B6.2d describe genetic engineering as a process which involves modifying the genome of an organism to introduce desirable characteristics

B6.2f  explain some of the possible benefits and risks of using gene technology in modern agriculture

B6.2g describe and explain some possible biotechnological solutions to the demands of the growing human population. To include genetic modification

Skills

• Appreciate the power and limitations of science, and consider any ethical issues that may arise.
• Explain every day and technological applications of science; evaluate associated personal, social, economic and environmental implications; and make decisions based on the evaluation of evidence and arguments

B6.1 How was the theory of evolution developed?

6. explain the impact of the selective breeding of food plants and domesticated animals

B 1.3 How can and should gene technology be used?

2. describe genetic engineering as a process which involves modifying the genome of an organism to introduce desirable characteristics

4. explain some of the possible benefits and risks, including practical and ethical considerations, of using gene technology in modern agriculture and medicine

B6.4 How is biodiversity threatened and how can we protect it?

3. describe some of the biological factors affecting levels of food security including increasing human population, changing diets in wealthier populations, new pests and pathogens, environmental change, sustainability and cost of agricultural inputs (separate science only)

6. describe and explain some possible biotechnological and agricultural solutions, including genetic modification, to the demands of the growing human population (separate science only)

Skills

• Appreciate the power and limitations of science, and consider any ethical issues that may arise.
• Explain every day and technological applications of science; evaluate associated personal, social, economic and environmental implications; and make decisions based on the evaluation of evidence and arguments

Geography
8.2 Can we feed nine billion people by 2050?

a. What does it mean to be food secure?

• Understand the term ‘food security’ and the human and physical factors which influence this.
• How world patterns of access to food are illustrated, such as the world hunger index and average daily calorie consumption

c. How sustainable are these strategies?

Explore the environmental, economic and social sustainability of attempts to achieve food security, in relation to:

• ethical consumerism, such as fairly traded goods and food waste
• food production, such as organic methods and intensive farming
• technological developments, such as GM crops and hydroponics
• small scale ‘bottom up’ approaches, such as urban gardens and permaculture.