The applications of biotechnology to food production are diverse and developing rapidly. As a result, a plethora of relevant material is to be found scattered amongst the standard GCSE texts, yet at the same time some topics are only available (at an inappropriate level) in more advanced and more specialised texts. The resultant difficulties of finding and selecting information impinge also on practical work and on wider resource materials. The syllabus has been very selective to keep the topic within bounds.
The purpose of this booklet is to assist teachers in dealing with these problems. Help is offered by indicating an appropriate level of treatment, possible sequencing, suggestions for activities, homework and sources of information and materials. Background text, whose factual content does not form part of the syllabus requirements, is offered; much of this is at a level for discussion with students. Protocols are provided for very basic practical work and, for teachers with a desire to extend experimental and investigative work further, some suggestions as well as references to appropriate publications are provided. A number of the practicals lend themselves to assessment of coursework, but no attempt is made here to pinpoint these opportunities.
It is envisaged that, depending upon the experimental and investigative work undertaken, approximately 12-16 hours of teaching time will be required to teach this extension to higher tier students.
Sequencing
There are advantages in teaching this section after completing the work on 'Microorganisms and Disease' when students have acquired an understanding of the nature and activities of microorganisms and of topics such as asepsis. The 'Microorganisms and Disease' section includes the production of penicillin in a fermenter, providing an opportunity for smooth linking of the two subject extension sections. It is, of course, perfectly feasible to extract parts of the extension sections to be dealt with at appropriate points in the core material; for example, 'Manipulating Genes and Reproduction' (extension) could well follow 'Inheritance' (core).
The order in which the materials is presented in this booklet broadly parallels that in the syllabus and represents one possible teaching sequence.