Skip to main content
HHMI BioInteractive
  • Español
  • Site Search
  • Log In/Create Account
  • BioInteractive Resources
  • Planning Tools
  • Professional Development
  • About Us

Lactose Intolerance: Fact or Fiction

Photo of a cat being given a bowl of milk

Topic

  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Metabolism & Nutrition
  • Evolution
  • Human Evolution
  • Scientific Skills & Literacy
  • Explanations & Argumentation

Resource Type

  • Activities
  • Lessons

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IB
Saved By
27 Users
Share This
View in Spanish

Description

In this activity, students evaluate and discuss statements about the evolutionary relationship between milk consumption and lactose tolerance discussed in the short film Making of the Fittest: Got Lactase? The Co-evolution of Genes and Culture.

This activity can be used as an anticipation guide to focus students on several of the key concepts presented in the short film. It also can serve as a pre- and post-assessment.

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

  • Evaluate claims based on information and evidence presented in a film.
  • Participate in a collaborative peer discussion about interpretations of the evidence from the film.
     

Estimated Time

One 50-minute class period.

Key Terms

blood glucose, coding DNA, co-evolution, culture, enzyme, lactase persistence, lactose intolerance, noncoding DNA

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.

Version History

Date Published 11.27.11

NGSS (2013)

HS-LS1-1, HS-LS1-6; SEP6

AP Biology (2019)

IST-2.E, IST-4.A, IST-4.B, EVO-1.O; SP1, SP6

IB Biology (2016)

2.5

Common Core (2010)

ELA.WHST.9–12.1

Vision and Change (2009)

CC4; DP1, DP6

Materials

Resource Google Folder (Link)
Teacher Materials (PDF) 361 KB
Student Handout (PDF) 289 KB
Educator Materials - Español (PDF) 228 KB
Student Handout - Español (PDF) 153 KB

Use This Resource With

Video Resource
The Making of the Fittest: Got Lactase? The Co-evolution of Genes and Culture

Explore Related Content

Other Resources About Lactase

Showing of
Image from the interactive
Click & Learn
Recent Adaptations in Humans
Image from the interactive
Click & Learn
Regulation of the Lactase Gene
Portion of the main image
Data Points
Spread of a Lactase-Persistence Allele
Title screen of the film
Film Activities
Activity for Got Lactase? The Co-evolution of Genes and Culture
Image from the activity
Case Studies
Lactase Persistence: Evidence for Selection
Image of a glass of milk with a smiley face superimposed
Animations
Natural Selection for Lactose Tolerance
Image from the activity
Labs & Demos
Milk: How Sweet Is It?
Image from the activity
Lessons
Pedigrees and the Inheritance of Lactose Intolerance
Image from the activity
Lessons
Blood Glucose Data Analysis
Image of lactase cleaving sugars
Animations
Lactose Digestion in Infants
Photo of a cow drinking milk from a bottle
Short Films
The Making of the Fittest: Got Lactase? The Co-evolution of Genes and Culture
Screen shot of the quiz
Interactive Videos
Interactive Assessment for Got Lactase? The Co-evolution of Genes and Culture

Other Related Resources

Showing of
Title screen of the film
Film Activities
Activity for Got Lactase? The Co-evolution of Genes and Culture
Photo of a cow drinking milk from a bottle
Short Films
The Making of the Fittest: Got Lactase? The Co-evolution of Genes and Culture
Screen shot of the quiz
Interactive Videos
Interactive Assessment for Got Lactase? The Co-evolution of Genes and Culture
Illustrated diagram showing the cycle of testing ideas that includes asking testable questions, collecting and analyzing data, and making logical conclusions
Click & Learn
Using the Scientific Process to Study Human Evolution
Image of footprints from the activity
Labs & Demos
Human Feet Are Strange
Image from the interactive
Click & Learn
Molecular Structure of Fat
Image from the interactive
Click & Learn
How The Body Uses Fat
Computer image of cell growth from the video
Animations
Cancer and Cell Fate in the Intestinal Epithelium
Image of lactase cleaving sugars
Animations
Lactose Digestion in Infants
Computer image of fat next to muscle cell
Animations
The Fate of Fat
HHMI BioInteractive
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Newsletter Signup
  • HHMI.org
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility