Book Summary
The book is a discussion of the science of genetics and how it comes into play in many different jobs. Animal breeders use genetics to create hunting, herding, and guarding animals. Endangered animals have been sustained through captive breeding in zoos. Farmers breed plants for taste, durability, and resistance to disease. Medical researchers use genetics to help diagnose and treat diseases and develop medicines. Criminologists use genetics (in the form of DNA evidence) to help them solve crimes. 

Vocabulary
Content Words:
captive breeding
diversity
DNA
genes
genetics
habitat
hybridization
inherit
propagate
selective breeding 

Reproducibles
Worksheets
Worksheet 1—Summarize Information
Worksheet 2—Factual Descriptive Language 

Lesson Objectives

Comprehension
You will likely address a number of comprehension skills as students work to understand the text. The targeted comprehension strategy for this lesson is: Summarizing information. 

Word Work

Factual Descriptive Language
Understand how adjectives and adverbs provide factual and precise descriptive language essential to the content of a report

Visual Literacy
Understand how photos and captions can provide information for the reader