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Building with Biology: Bio Bistro

In this activity, learners decide what current and future synthetic biology-based food products they would, would not, or might eat.

DESCRIPTION

"Bio Bistro" is a card-based personal choice activity, in which visitors decide what current and future synthetic biology-based food products they would, would not, or might eat. They share their opinions on why they made each choice, and discuss what problems researchers are trying to solve with these foods, and what they like or don't like about these solutions.

Includes reference sheets comparing genetic engineering, traditional breeding, and synthetic biology.

JUMP TO BROWSE RELATED RESOURCES
  • Building with Biology Bio Bistro activity components
  • Participants interact with cutouts that have information on them
  • Genetic Engineering Reference infographic card explaining how it works
  • Reference card infographic explaining how traditional breading works
  • Reference card infographic explaining how synthetic biology works
  • Building with Biology Bio Bistro activity components
  • Participants interact with cutouts that have information on them
  • Genetic Engineering Reference infographic card explaining how it works
  • Reference card infographic explaining how traditional breading works
  • Reference card infographic explaining how synthetic biology works

DESCRIPTION

"Bio Bistro" is a card-based personal choice activity, in which visitors decide what current and future synthetic biology-based food products they would, would not, or might eat. They share their opinions on why they made each choice, and discuss what problems researchers are trying to solve with these foods, and what they like or don't like about these solutions.

Includes reference sheets comparing genetic engineering, traditional breeding, and synthetic biology.

JUMP TO BROWSE RELATED RESOURCES

TRAINING VIDEOS

OBJECTIVES

BIG IDEA

Synthetic biology is interconnected with society.

LEARNING GOALS

  • Synthetic biologists solve problems by applying engineering principles to living materials.

  • We all have a role in shaping the development and use of new technologies.

  • Synthetic biology may provide solutions to problems in areas such as food security, healthcare, energy, and the environment.

Credits

YEAR CREATED
2016
OWNING INSTITUTION

Science Museum of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota/ Museum of Science, Boston

FUNDING

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Number DRL 1421179.  Any opinions, findings, and conclusions expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

PERMISSIONS

Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US).
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DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

NISE Network products are developed through an iterative collaborative process that includes scientific review, peer review, and visitor evaluation in accordance with an inclusive audiences approach. Products are designed to be easily edited and adapted for different audiences under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike license. To learn more, visit our Development Process page.