Mystery Meat

Authors: Jennifer Collins and Allen G. Collins

Overview

In this lesson students follow the steps of scientists Steve Palumbi and Scott Baker, who used DNA data (“Barcoding”) to reveal the species identifications of kujira (whale meat) from foreign markets. Their study showed how DNA barcoding can be used to identify unknown organisms in order to investigate whether whales are being illegally hunted and sold as meat.

Students begin by reading brief background material about the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and its treaty dealing with the exploitation of whales. They then are told that they are visiting a foreign market and come across kujira or whale meat. This revelation precipitates a discussion and leads them to recognize that DNA taken from the meat might be able to help them identify the source.

Students then use an online web tool, Witness for Whales, to examine several unknown DNA sequences. The website generates phylogenetic trees that show the positions of unknown DNA samples. The site also provides distance values that show how similar DNA sequences from unknown samples are to the DNA barcodes of known species. Students record their findings, then do further investigating to determine the hunting status of each organism revealed. Finally, students use their findings and other resources to make recommendations to the IWC. Students choose the individual perspective that they would like to suggest the direction the IWC should take in monitoring the hunting of whales.

For Grades 9 - 12:

Directions and Handouts:

Teacher Directions (HTML) or PDF version

Student Directions (HTML) or PDF Version

Introduction of Baker and Palumbi’s paper, “Which Whales Are Hunted?” (PDF)

Unknown DNA Samples (HTML)

Phylogenetic Tree of Cetacean CytB Sequences (PDF)

Phylogenetic Tree of Cetacean CytB Sequences with All Unknowns (PDF)

Data Table: Hunting Status of Whales Since 1986 (PDF)

Student Investigation Sheet (PDF)

Student Investigation Sheet -- Teacher Version (PDF)

Optional: Qustions: Which Whales Are Hunted? (PDF)

Optional: Qustions: Which Whales Are Hunted? -- Teacher Version (PDF)

Mystery Meat – Final Assessment (PDF)

Acknowledgments:

Thanks to Karen Johnson for our lovely icon. Reviews and suggestions are forthcoming, but we initially acknowledge the initial helpful comments of Judy Scotchmoor and Sue Piskor.