생명공학 분야에 대한 생물 교과서 내용 분석 및 학생들의 인식조사

Abstract

To improve the way of teaching genetics and biotechnology at secondary schools, biotechnology contents in high school biology textbooks were analyzed and students' perception on genetic concepts was investigated. Biotechnology issues such as recombinant genetic techniques, stem cell research, and animal cloning were incorporated in both Biology Ⅰand Biology Ⅱ. The textbooks provided information on scientific and technical applications as well as its ethical and social implications. However, in some cases, it was not clear whether the technique was currently widely used or still in the experimental stage. The arguments often fluctuated between the two extremes when explaining the ambivalent nature of technology. Some of the inquiry questions were too vague and/or broad for students to find an appropriate answer. In the second part of the study, 13 middle school and high school students were interviewed on topics regarding genetics and biotechnology. Five middle school students have heard of genetic engineering from the mass media or from a class other than biology, but did not have a proper concept on gene. When high school students were asked of the genetic identity of cells in an organism, three out of eight students thought that different tissues in a same organism were consisted of different genetic make-up. Further questions revealed they had recognized that an organism was developed from a single zygote. This suggests that they could not combine information they learned from different parts of the curriculum, in this case cell division and development. Most students supported gene therapy but opposed to apply recombinant genetic techniques to cosmetic surgery. However, the grounds for their arguments were mostly emotional rather than rational. In conclusion, textbook contents as well as teaching materials should be developed in such a way to help students to understand genetic concepts and current status of biotechnology in a more integrated and rational manner.