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Interactive Assessment for Popped Secret: The Mysterious Origin of Corn

Start Video
Screen shot of the quiz

Topic

  • Genetics
  • Gene Expression & Regulation
  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Plant Anatomy & Physiology
  • Evolution
  • Artificial Selection

Resource Type

  • Interactive Media
  • Interactive Videos

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
Saved By
13 Users
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Description

A number of questions are embedded within the short film Popped Secret: The Mysterious Origin of Corn, which explores the genetic and archaeological evidence that corn was domesticated from a wild Mexican grass called teosinte.

Ten thousand years ago, corn didn’t exist anywhere in the world, and until recently scientists argued vehemently about its origins. Today, the crop is consumed voraciously by us, by our livestock, and as a major part of processed foods. So where did it come from? This film tells the story of the genetic changes involved in the transformation of teosinte into corn and the supporting archaeological evidence pinpointing this transformation to a particular time and place in Mexico.

This version of the film with embedded questions contains automatic pause points, during which students answer questions about the film to assess their understanding of the concepts presented. After answering all the questions, students can view and print their answers.

Student Learning Targets

  • Describe the genetic and archaeological evidence that suggests that corn was domesticated from teosinte.

  • Explain how changes in only a few genes can account for the dramatic differences between corn and teosinte.

Estimated Time

Within one 50-minute class period.

Key Terms

archaeology, artificial selection, crossbreeding, domestication, maize, Mexico, microfossil, selective breeding, teosinte

Primary Literature

Beadle, George W. “The origin of Zea mays.” In Origins of Agriculture, edited by C. E. Reed, 615–636. The Hague: Mouton, 1977.

Terms of Use

Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.

Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)

Interactive media meets criteria.

Version History

Date Published 01.05.16
Date Updated 01.05.16

NGSS (2013)

HS-LS1-1, HS-LS3-1, HS-LS3-3, HS-LS4-1; SEP6

AP Biology (2019)

EVO-1.F, EVO-1.M. EVO-1.N, EVO-3.F, IST-1.I, IST-2.A, IST-2.B, IST-2.D, IST-2.E, SYI-3.C; SP1, SP4

IB Biology (2016)

2.7, 3.1, 3.4, 5.1, 9.3, 10.2

AP Environmental Science (2020)

Topic(s): 2.1

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

5.2

Common Core (2010)

ELA.WHST.9-12.4

Vision and Change (2009)

CC1, CC2, CC3; DP1

Use This Resource With

Video Resource
Popped Secret: The Mysterious Origin of Corn

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Dating Corn Domestication Using Carbon Isotopes
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Popped Secret: The Mysterious Origin of Corn

Other Related Resources

Showing of
Image of an ear of corn from the film
Film Activities
Activity for Popped Secret: The Mysterious Origin of Corn
Image of ears of corn from the film
Short Films
Popped Secret: The Mysterious Origin of Corn
Illustration of a teosinte plant next to a corn plant
Lessons
Stalking the Genetic Basis of a Trait
Image from the activity
Data Points
Selective Breeding in Maize
Photo of corn next to teosinte from the activity
Lessons
The Teosinte Hypothesis
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Dating Corn Domestication Using Carbon Isotopes
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