Middle school kids find genetics to be one of the coolest topics of the year. They cant help themselves. With so much exposure to this topic in the media, they have so much to discuss (many things misconceptions but it still leads to quality discussion). So to lead into advanced genetics and the importance of the creation of Dolly, I have the students discuss what they know about cloning or any other type of biotech they have seen in movies and tv.
With the constant bombardment with multiple types of digital media, and with the growing improvements in biotech, we are exposed to various forms of it regularly. But is what we are exposed to based on reality or completely and utterly fictitious? And who is not to say that one day the fictitious becomes reality? Its a fine line with the every advancing improvements. Who would had thought I would have the power of a computer in the palm of my hand? Things are progressing at such a high rate, its nearly impossible to determine what the next great invention would be.
So I enjoy playing the video clip below from a MadTV skit. I find it hysterical but that may be because I am more accustom to Arnold Schwarzenegger being in every action film (and lets not forget Jingle All The Way). It gets the kids laughing, its gets the kids to take a moment to imitate "Arnold speak" as I call it. But again it shows how a simple skit brings up the fact that biotech is something that is being placed into pop culture and we need to address it. Teachers need to make sure that those moments of laughter do not turn into moments of fact. Cloning is a more than just a lil DNA and some high tech Easy Bake Oven to make a new organism.
MTV Arnold Clone Baby clip - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVIZx3Cl78k
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