Hands on Fish Genetics in the Classroom

School:: Golden Gate High
Subject:: Science
Teacher:: Patty Luciano
Students Impacted:: 150
Grade:: 9-12
Date:: August 23, 2019

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

Dr. Paul A. Pacter - $1,750.50

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 140

Students were excited to be able to see fish genetics in action! We set up the 6 tanks - and were monitoring them for water quality. We had to check the water quality daily - and then set up the light/dark cycles. This was a bit challenging at first - since we used 6 different timers but then readjusted the settings. The tanks were ready for the fish after spring break (since our break was early this year I waited for the break to be over - needed consecutive weeks to be with the fish). However, the implementation phase did not happen as we never returned to the classroom. The project will be ready to go next year.

Original Grant Overview

Goal

To give students a hands on learning opportunity to apply genetics and environmental science in the classroom.

What will be done with my students

Students will be able to use their knowledge of genetics to breed zebrafish based on certain desired traits. Students will be able to observe the vertebrate development of the fish from the fertilization stage to the adult stage. Concepts such as embryology, environmental science, biotechnology and business ownership will also be applied.

Benefits to my students

Genetic concepts can often be very difficult for students to grasp - especially without hands on applications. With the use of the zebra fish breeding system - students will not only be selecting desired fish traits - but also visualizing their results. Students will also understand the benefits and costs of aquaculture - how fish breeding systems can be used as alternative food sources. Aquaculture and genetic engineering are on the frontier of science education and students in my Title 1 school would not be able to have this hands on learning experience without this system. Many other areas of science can also be applied using this breeding system - including water quality and fish. Water quality is such an important issue - especially with the Red Tide impact and algae growth here in Florida - and this system will complement the learning process.

Budget Narrative

Biology is a required course for all high school students. To effectively give all students and all classes the opportunity to develop their own experiments - a minimum of 6 tanks would be needed. The holding tanks are required for the adult fish to develop. This project would be a great startup to my larger project of genetic aquaengineering.

Items

#	Item	Cost
1	Carolina Deluxe Zebra Fish Breeding Kit	$257.45
2	Carolina Deluxe Zebra Fish Breeding Kit	$257.45
3	Carolina Deluxe Zebra Fish Breeding Kit	$257.45
4	Carolina Deluxe Zebra Fish Breeding Kit	$257.45
5	Carolina Deluxe Zebra Fish Breeding Kit	$257.45
6	Carolina Deluxe Zebra Fish Breeding Kit	$257.45
7	Zebra Fish Holding Tank	$51.45
8	Zebra Fish Holding Tank	$51.45
9	Zebra Fish Holding Tank	$51.45
10	Zebra Fish Holding Tank	$51.45
	Total:	$1,750.50

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