Touchpoint 1
Two lifeforms merge in once-in-a-billion-years evolutionary event
What is it?
The last time two organisms merged to create a new organism was when Earth got plants. In 4 billions years, scientists think it has happened twice. A type of algae has absorbed a type of bacteria that it treats as an additional organ.
Potential message to students:
Do you think this merge happens more often that we think and we just aren’t there to witness it? Do you think biology engineers could do experiments to see if they can force to organisms to merge?
Touchpoint 2
Meet Antonia and Noreen: 2 new black-footed ferret clones born
What is it?
U.S. Fish and Wildlife worked with researchers to clone an endangered ferret. Because there are so few of these ferrets left, they feel genetic diversity is needed in offspring to keep the ferret population healthy.
Potential message to students:
Do we need black-footed ferrets? Is it ok to let some species go extinct or should we try to save all of them? What do you think about U.S. Fish and Wildlife being involved in cloning?
Touchpoint 3
Scientists genetically engineered bacteria to grow animal- and plastic-free leather
What is it?
Researchers believe they can make leather without animals. They not only are making leather from modified microbes, but they don’t believe their leather will require chemical dies, which can be hazardous.
Potential message to students:
We eat a lot of animals whose skin goes to leather goods. Do we need lab-grown leather? Do you think there will be a market for this leather? Do you think scientists should work on alligator skins or other animals whose leather is highly desirable but reduces the animal population too much?