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Prying into Prions: Investigating Chronic Wasting Disease

This supplemental unit for middle- and high-school students explores prion diseases, including chronic wasting disease. In six lessons, students learn about transmissible spongiform encephalopathies by examining the role of proteins in organisms, the chemistry and properties of proteins, the genetic processes that create proteins and how proteins can become pathogenic. Students also study how chronic wasting disease is affecting Illinois’ white-tailed deer herd and what control measures are being taken. 

Adapted by the IDNR Division of Education with permission from Colorado Parks and Wildlife , the lessons are designed to be taught in sequence. A video is available. All lessons are correlated to the Next Generation Science Standards.

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Lesson Podcasts and NGSS

Next Generation Science Standards Correlations

Prying into Prions: Investigating Chronic Wasting Disease - Middle School - MS-LS3-1
Prying into Prions: Investigating Chronic Wasting Disease - High School - HS-LS1-1, HS-LS3-1, HS-LS3-2

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