Lactose Intolerance: Fact or Fiction

Photo of a cat being given a bowl of milk
Topic
Resource Type
Level
High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IB
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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.

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.
     
Details
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
Curriculum Connections
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

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