Essential Question: Why do pandemics tend to be viral rather than bacterial?
Unit Storyline Synopsis: Scholars engage with the Essential Question by considering what causes pandemics and how they vary in severity. They will be asked to define what makes one pandemic more serious than another. Is it the case fatality rate? The incubation period? The R0? How can we quantify the toll a pandemic takes on its affected population? Scholars already know about microorganisms and may think they understand them, but they will quickly realize as they study taxonomy that microorganisms come in many forms and not all of them result in illness.
After taking a closer look at various microorganisms, they will study the structure and function of the two pathogens that most frequently cause disease in humans: bacteria and viruses. They will learn how pathogens infect organisms at the microscopic level, using the host’s own biological processes, and based on this information, scholars will consider why pandemics more frequently have viral causes. Is it their structure? Is it how they infect hosts? Is it how hosts respond? Then, scholars will consider how (or if!) these pathogens can be stopped by studying immunity.
At the end of the unit, scholars apply their understanding of pathogens as they study how bacteria and viruses evolve through natural selection. They also learn that pathogens themselves are vehicles of natural selection in other living organisms and have greatly impacted the trajectory of their evolution. Finally, scholars conclude the unit by composing written responses to share their newfound knowledge of viruses, bacteria, and the spread of pandemics.
Why This Unit? Scholars study a real-world problem that has recently upended their day-to-day lives: the spread of disease. During the COVID-19 outbreak, inaccurate information about the disease has spread through social media and news outlets alike. But how can scholars evaluate all of the information being thrown at them and make reasonable conclusions about the truth behind global crises like these? In this unit, scholars uncover the science behind pandemics like COVID-19. They build upon their prior knowledge of genetics and biology to better understand the behavior of pathogens like viruses and bacteria, as well as their spread. The discoveries made and connections drawn in this unit will benefit scholars greatly as they prepare for high school– and college-level science.