Icefish Blood Adaptations: Antifreeze Proteins

Topic
Resource Type
Level
High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IB
Favorited By
2 Users
Description

This hands-on activity serves as an introduction to the film The Birth and Death of Genes. Students investigate the importance of antifreeze proteins for icefish survival through one of two short labs.

The activity includes two short labs that allow students to explore a key adaptation introduced in the film: antifreeze proteins in the blood. By creating models icefish blood and exploring its properties, students are motivated to think about how having blood that does not freeze in Antarctic waters might be an important adaptation for certain fish. They then watch the film to learn more about this evolutionary process.

Student Learning Targets

  • Explain the importance of different adaptations (in particular, antifreeze proteins) to the survival of notothenioids.

  • Use models to make scientific claims based on evidence and reasoning.

Details
Estimated Time
One 50-minute class period.
Key Terms

antifreeze protein, freezing point, ice crystal, mutation, trait, variation

Terms of Use

The resource is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. No rights are granted to use HHMI’s or BioInteractive’s names or logos independent from this Resource or in any derivative works.

Accessibility Level

The documents for this resource have been remediated to comply with Section 508 of the National Rehabilitation Act for accessibility and can be used with screen readers.
Version History
Date Created
Date Modified
Curriculum Connections
NGSS (2013)

HS-LS1-1, HS-LS4-2, HS-LS4-4; SEP2, SEP6

AP Biology (2015)

1.A.1, 1.A.2, 3.C.1, 4.C.1; SP1, SP6

IB Biology (2016)

3.1, 5.2, 6.2

AP Environmental Science (2013)

II.C

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

3.2

Common Core (2010)

ELA.RST.9–12.3, ELA.WHST.9–12.1

Vision and Change (2009)

CC1, CC2, CC5; DP1, DP3

Explore Related Content

Other Resources About Icefish
Showing of
Interactive Videos
Interactive Assessment for The Birth and Death of Genes
Film Activities
Activity for The Birth and Death of Genes
Labs & Demos
Icefish Blood Adaptations: Viscosity
Lessons
How Novel Icefish Genes Can Improve Human Health
Other Related Resources
Showing of
Labs & Demos
Icefish Blood Adaptations: Viscosity
Interactive Videos
Interactive Assessment for The Birth and Death of Genes
Short Films
The Making of the Fittest: The Birth and Death of Genes
Film Activities
Activity for The Birth and Death of Genes
Lessons
How Novel Icefish Genes Can Improve Human Health
Labs & Demos
Variations in the Clam Species Clamys sweetus
Animations
Heart Function
Clips
Kidney Function
Chart taken from the data points paper.
Data Points
Diving Adaptations in Sea Nomads
Animations
Simulating Evolution of a Rock Pocket Mouse Population