Jamie Lau

EDUC624 - Secondary Methods in Science

Determining Acceptable Evidence: Performance Assessment for MS-LS3-2

Performance Task:

Goal and role: In the 1950’s, a French shellfish biologist by the name of Dr. Gustav Rastón
created a genetically superior line of the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) that was resilient to
some of the most significant impacts of climate change, including warming water temperatures,
ocean acidification, and parasitic diseases. Dr. Gustav Rastón and his team spent 20 years of
selective breeding to create this superior genetic line. Not only was this variety more resistant to
climate change, but it also had characteristics that made it a popular variety for consumers,
including a deep cup and slightly sweet flavor. You are a science writer writing a featured article
about the world’s most superior oyster and your task is to use what you know about the genetics
of trait inheritance to explain to your audience how this oyster received the characteristics that
made it superior to all other varieties. You are writing for a scientifically sound audience who
understands genetic models and basic vocabulary such as dominant and recessive traits,
homozygous, heterozygous, and Punnett squares. The purpose of having you write the article is
to convince an investor to provide funds for your oyster farm in an area that is at a high risk for
climate change. You are hoping to use the article as a way to show how and why this oyster
variety you plan to grow will be successful for the shellfish market. You will refer to the pedigree
chart and the notes on Pacific oyster genetics below to construct your article. Your article needs
to include the genotype of the superior oyster for the three different characteristics (cup depth,
shell thickness, and growth rate in warm waters), a Punnett square for each of the characteristics
to demonstrate its inheritance, an explanation how the G.O.A.T. received the three superior
characteristics, an explanation for why it took 20 years for Dr. Raston and his team to create the
superior oyster, and how farmers could recreate this variety over and over again to ensure the
survival of each years crop.

Task:

Read the introduction from a scientific research paper on identifying genes in the oyster genome
that allow them to grow faster and develop superior phenotypes that are resilience to various
environmental factors. Highlight or underline the most relevant points and include this
information in the introduction of your article to give your reader some background information
about why this is important. Then, use the information below to construct your article.
Jamie Lau
EDUC624 - Secondary Methods in Science
February 20, 2024

Background Article: Introduction from Li et al. 2023

Many complex biological traits are controlled by genes of both small and large effects and their
interactions with variable environmental factors (Lynch and Walsh, 1998). In analysis of species
that are important for human food production (agricultural animals and plants), analysis of
genetic architectures of complex traits have facilitated identification of causal biological factors
impacting desired phenotypes (Mackay, 2004; Georges, 2007; Holland, 2007; Womack et al.,
2012; Goddard et al., 2016). Predictions of phenotypes are also complicated by variable
transgenerational inheritance of complex traits (Mackay, 2004). Analysis of candidate genes that
are based on biochemical and physiological processes offer additional approaches for
identification of specific genes linked to complex traits (Georges, 2007; Zhu and Zhao, 2007). A
focus on integrative biological approaches has the potential to advance understanding of
fundamental mechanisms regulating complex traits (e.g., resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses
for enhancing food production and yield).

Aquaculture of “Blue Food” has been growing dramatically for decades and is making a
substantial contribution to the global food supply (Kobayashi et al., 2015; Botta et al., 2020;
Nature editorial, 2021; FAO, 2023). Of the many organisms cultivated in aquaculture, species of
bivalve shellfish are globally cultivated in the coastal waters of six continents (except
Antarctica). In addition to being of nutritional value as a human food source, such species serve
as important ecosystem engineers in marine environments (Smaal et al., 2019).

The oyster Crassostrea gigas comprises a large category of total aquaculture production, as one
of the most commonly farmed bivalves in the world (FAO, 2023). Many oyster production
facilities rely largely on “seed” (larvae, or newly-settled juveniles reared from larvae) produced
by hatcheries. As with agriculture, breeding technologies have the potential to improve yields in
aquaculture (Hedgecock et al., 1995; Hedgecock and Davis, 2007; De Melo et al., 2016; Kong et
al., 2017; Hollenbeck and Johnston, 2018; Han et al., 2020; Houston et al., 2020; Allen Jr et al.,
2021; Liang et al., 2023). Pan et al., 2016, Pan et al., 2018 utilized pedigreed lines of C. gigas to
analyze the biochemical and physiological traits of growth variation in larvae, and demonstrated
that rates of protein synthesis and ion transport are predictive of growth rate. Furthermore,
biological resilience to environmental change among marine organisms is a major concern (e.g.,
rising temperature, ocean acidification, and disease) (Somero, 2010; Dégremont et al., 2015;
Przeslawski et al., 2015; Divilov et al., 2023). Studies using pedigreed lines of C. gigas revealed
promising evidence of standing genetic variation and physiological capacities to resist stress
(Frieder et al., 2017; Pan et al., 2021; DellaTorre et al., 2022). Clearly, there is the potential to
identify the genetic and physiological bases in pedigreed lines that grow faster and have superior
phenotypes that are resilient to a wide range of environmental stressors.
Jamie Lau
EDUC624 - Secondary Methods in Science
February 20, 2024

Figure 1: Graph of various growth rates for each larval family. All families were raised in the
same lab conditions, yet growth rates vary, demonstrating the impact of genetics on larval
performance (Pan et al., 2018).

Sources:

Li, N. Pan, F., Griffith, A., Dellatorre, M., Manadan, D. (2023) Integration of physiological and
gene expression analyses to reveal biomarkers for protein dynamic mechanisms regulating
higher growth and survival among larval oyster families (Crassostrea gigas), Aquaculture,
Volume 577, 2023, 739918, ISSN 0044-8486.

T.-C. Francis Pan, Scott L. Applebaum, Christina A. Frieder, Donal T. Manahan (2018);
Biochemical bases of growth variation during development: a study of protein turnover in
pedigreed families of bivalve larvae (Crassostrea gigas). J Exp Biol 15 May 2018; 221 (10):
jeb171967.
Jamie Lau
EDUC624 - Secondary Methods in Science
February 20, 2024

The Star Hudson Spy

Pedigree:
Wolfe’s Neck Sweet Angel Barb Basket Island

Casco Bay The Honeydew

The G.O.A.T

Pacific Oyster genetics:

• Shallow cup is dominant (The Star ’s genotype is cc, Basket Island’s genotype is Cc)

• Thin shell is recessive (The Star’s genotype is ss, Sweet Angel’s genotype is Ss)

• Faster growth in warm waters is dominant (Casco Bay’s genotype is Tt, Hudson Spy’s
genotype is Tt, Wolfe’s Neck genotype is TT)

• The G.O.A.T has a deep cup, thick shell, and grows faster in warmer waters

Differentiation

This performance task contains a lot of flexibility for students with different learning needs to
participate and succeed in the activity. Because the final product is a feature article such as short
pieces in a magazine, they can choose to present their evidence in a variety of ways. Some
students may like to use more words to explain their thought processes, while others may be
more comfortable using images and diagrams with less words to convey their understanding. The
Jamie Lau
EDUC624 - Secondary Methods in Science
February 20, 2024

magazine article as an assessment product allows for this kind of flexibility in accommodating
students with diverse learning needs.

Part 5 - Design a rubric

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OJavaScript if it is disabledDescribe other evidence

• Short quizzes that demonstrate students understanding of scientific vocabulary, the use of
Punnett squares and other diagrams or forms of genetic inheritance simulation

• Lab reports and worksheets that demonstrate a students ability to work through the entire
process of investigations
Jamie Lau
EDUC624 - Secondary Methods in Science
February 20, 2024

• Short reflection pieces on what students learn or take away at the end of each class and how
the material from class relates to their personal lives