Methods
This qualitative
research study was carried out using a scanning model. In order to
determine the knowledge of the pre-service science teachers in this
study, questions related to DNA and roles, structure of DNA,
Genetically Modified Organisms, in addition to some questions related
to DNA technologies developed by Mahajan and Chattopadhyay (with
permission) were used. This survey was carried out during the spring
semester of the 2006-2007 academic year with the participation of the
elementary school pre-service science teachers of the Faculty of
Education at Selcuk University. The students were informed that this
was not an examination, and enough time was given to students to
complete the questionnaire. Percent statements are used for the
analysis of the data.
Pre-service teachers
had learned DNA and DNA technology informations in their biology
lessons during their education. The answers pre-service teachers gave
to the questions were analyzed separately. The questions used in the
survey were open ended.
Questions
about DNA and DNA technology:
1) Who discovered the structure of DNA
and in which year?
2) What is the structure of B-DNA ?
Briefly write in your answers in the choices given below:
a) Number of strands:
b) Chemical composition:
c) Types of bonds
involved in the DNA structure:
d) Measurements (width,
number of base pairs per turn, length of DNA per turn, etc.):
e) Complementary
strands:
f)
Any other important information regarding the DNA
structure:
3) The term gene expression refers
to what? Write in short sentences.
4) Make a flow chart to explain the concept of ‘Central
Dogma’ (e.g., A è B è CèDè…).
5) What is cloning? Write as
bullet points.
6) What is gene cloning? Write as
bullet points.
7) What is animal cloning? Write
as bullet points.
8) “DNA
fingerprinting has become a useful tool to solve many criminal
cases/settling disputes in blood relations.” What is DNA
fingerprinting? Write as bullet points.
9) Who should have access to the genetic
profile of an individual? Tick one or more options given
below and give reasons for your choice.
(a) No one (b)
Doctor and only the person concerned (c) Person and
immediate family
(d) Person and all
family members (e) Police and other security
agencies
(f) Employer (g)
School/college authorities (h) Any other
individuals (i) The scientist
Reasons
for your choice:
10) Name a few GMOs or GM drugs.
11) If GM plants are to be cultivated in Turkey on a
large scale:
i) Should
these plants (and other GMOs) be free to be introduced in the open
fields and markets so that the farmers and the industry make good
profits? Yes/No
ii) Or,
should there be some checks?
Yes/No.
iii) Have you
any ideas about these checks/regulations? Yes/No
iv) If yes, give a few
details about these regulations. Write as bullet points.
v) Name one GM plant
introduced in Turkey?
Sample
144 elementary school
pre-service science teachers studying at the Faculty of Education in
Selcuk University during the 2006-2007 academic year who were
taught biology lessons in high school formed the sample of
this study. The ages of the pre-service teachers who participated in
this study were between 19 and 23. Pre-service teachers were from the
different regions in Turkey. These students learned biotechnology and
genetic engineering information during biology lessons while attending
high school.
Copyright
(C)
2008
HKIEd APFSLT.
Volume
9,
Issue
1,
Article 8 (June, 2008).
All Rights Reserved.
