CSI Wildlife

Topic
Resource Type
Description
This interactive module allows students to use DNA profiling and related biological concepts to solve two cases of elephant poaching.
This Click & Learn combines elephants, species conservation, and forensics to teach key biological concepts and science practices. Students explore actual cases, adapted for use in the classroom, in which scientists use DNA profiling to investigate the elephant poaching that supplies the ivory trade. In the process, students learn about genetic markers, PCR, gel electrophoresis, allele frequencies, and population genetics.
The Click & Learn has three associated worksheets:
- “Student Worksheet One (Analyzing Genetic Evidence)” walks students through all sections of the Click & Learn, except for the "Frequency Primer" section. This worksheet can serve as a record of completion, as well as a reference for key concepts.
- “Student Worksheet Two (Using Genetics to Hunt Elephant Poachers)” provides additional data sets that students will use to solve several new cases. This worksheet is more of an extension activity in which students apply what they learned from the Click & Learn. It requires students to think scientifically, use math appropriately, and apply claim-evidence-reasoning to support their thinking.
- The “Student Supplement (Frequency Primer)” scaffolds the "Frequency Primer" section at the end of Case One and provides additional practice with probability calculations. It may be helpful for students who are new to frequency and probability calculations.
The “Resource Google Folder” link directs to a Google Drive folder of resource documents in the Google Docs format. Not all downloadable documents for the resource may be available in this format. The Google Drive folder is set as “View Only”; to save a copy of a document in this folder to your Google Drive, open that document, then select File → “Make a copy.” These documents can be copied, modified, and distributed online following the Terms of Use listed in the “Details” section below, including crediting BioInteractive.
Student Learning Targets
- Analyze and interpret gel electrophoresis results to determine relationships between individuals and populations.
- Use allele frequencies to calculate the probability of two individuals sharing the same genetic profile.
- Explain how the geographic and genetic distances between two populations are related.
- Explain how genetic data helps law enforcement officers and conservationists decide where to target their efforts.
Estimated Time
Key Terms
conservation, DNA fingerprinting, DNA profiling, elephant, gel electrophoresis, genetic marker, ivory, poaching, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), short tandem repeat (STR)
Primary Literature
Wasser, S. K., L. Brown, C. Mailand, S. Mondol, W. Clark, C. Laurie, and B. S. Weir. "Genetic assignment of large seizures of elephant ivory reveals Africa’s major poaching hotspots." Science 349, 6243 (2015): 84–87. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaa2457.
The article's underlying data are available from the Dryad Digital Repository. An annotated version of the article is also available from Science in the Classroom.
Terms of Use
Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.
Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)
Version History
NGSS (2013)
HS-LS2-2, HS-LS2-7, HS-LS3-3; SEP2, SEP4, SEP5, SEP6
AP Biology (2019)
IST-1.M, IST-1.N, IST-1.O, IST-1.P, SYI-3.F; SP1, SP2, SP5, SP6
IB Biology (2016)
3.1, 3.5, B.5, C.3, C.4
AP Environmental Science (2020)
Topic(s): 2.1, 2.7, 9.9
Learning Objectives & Practices: ERT-2.A. ERT-2.I, EIN-4.B, SP1, SP2, SP4, SP5, SP6, SP7
IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)
3.3. 3.4
Common Core (2010)
ELA.RST.9-12.2, ELA.RST.9-12.7, ELA.WHST.9-12.9
Math.N-Q.1, Math.A-CED.1, Math.A-REI.2, Math.A-REI.3, Math.S-IC.1, Math.S-IC.2, Math.S-IC.3; MP1, MP2, MP3
Vision and Change (2009)
CC5; DP1, DP2, DP3
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