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

Selective Breeding in Maize

Image from the activity

Topic

  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Plant Anatomy & Physiology
  • Evolution
  • Artificial Selection
  • Math & Computational Skills
  • Graph Interpretation

Resource Type

  • Activities
  • Data Points

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
Saved By
8 Users
Share This

Description

This activity guides the analysis of a published scientific figure from the world’s longest-running controlled artificial selection study, in which scientists tested whether they could use selective breeding to change the protein concentration of maize (corn).

The study began in 1896 and spans over 100 generations of maize. Each generation, scientists planted seeds from the most protein-rich and protein-deficient plants from the previous generation. The figure shows the protein content in each generation for the Illinois High Protein (IHP) and the Illinois Low Protein (ILP) strains. In generation 48, scientists reversed the direction of selection on some of the IHP and ILP plants, leading to the new strains RHP and RLP. In generation 90, scientists reversed the direction of selection on some of the ILP plants again, producing the new strain RLP2.

The “Educator Materials” document includes a captioned figure, background information, graph interpretation, and discussion questions. The “Student Handout” includes a captioned figure and background information. The original article is also provided as a download.

Student Learning Targets

  • Analyze and interpret data from a scientific figure. 
  • Describe the process of artificial selection and what happens when a selective pressure is reversed.

Estimated Time

Within one 50-minute class period.

Key Terms

agriculture, corn, generation, line graph, long-term selection experiment, plant evolution, selective pressure

Primary Literature

Moose, S. P., J. W. Dudley, and T. R. Rocheford. “Maize selection passes the century mark: a unique resource for 21st century genomics.” Trends in Plant Science 9, 7 (2004): 358–364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2004.05.005.

Terms of Use

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

Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)

PDF files partially meet criteria.

Version History

Date Published 06.22.16
Date Updated 06.22.16

NGSS (2013)

HS-LS4-5; SEP2, SEP4, SEP5

AP Biology (2019)

EVO-1.F, EVO-1.M; SP1, SP4

IB Biology (2016)

5.1

AP Environmental Science (2020)

Topic(s): 2.6, 5.6
Learning Objectives & Practices: ERT-2.H, EIN-2.G, SP5

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

5.2

Common Core (2010)

ELA.RST.9-12.7
Math.S-ID.3, Math.S-IC.1; MP2, MP5

Vision and Change (2009)

CC1; DDP2, DP3

Materials

Educator Materials (PDF) 1 MB
Student Handout (PDF) 751 KB
Original Paper (PDF) 225 KB

Explore Related Content

Other Resources About Corn

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

Other Related Resources

Showing of
Screen shot of the quiz
Interactive Videos
Interactive Assessment 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
Image of an ear of corn from the film
Film Activities
Activity for Popped Secret: The Mysterious Origin of Corn
Photo of corn next to teosinte from the activity
Lessons
The Teosinte Hypothesis
Illustration of a teosinte plant next to a corn plant
Lessons
Stalking the Genetic Basis of a Trait
Image from the activity
Data Points
Dating Corn Domestication Using Carbon Isotopes
Image illustrating seed dispersal from the film
Lessons
Seed Dispersal in Tropical Forests
Graph from the activity
Data Points
Salt Stress Impacts Photosynthesis in Algae
Image from the interactive
Click & Learn
Natural and Artificial Selection
Image of an ancient dog drawing from the video
Clips
Dog Breeding
HHMI BioInteractive
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Newsletter Signup
  • HHMI.org
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility