Shepody Potato - Teacher's Guide

Learn about the Shepody potato, which has been adapted for Canada's short growing season and is becoming one of the most popular potato varieties for French Fries.

Video and Transcript | List of Teacher's Guides

Curriculum Connections

Science (Grade 9/10)

• Provide examples of scientific knowledge that have resulted in the development of technologies;
• Provide examples of Canadian contributions to science and technology;
• Distinguish between asexual and sexual reproduction in representative organisms;
• Compare sexual and asexual reproduction in terms of advantages and disadvantages;
• Explain current reproductive technologies for plants and animals;
• Debate the merits of funding specific scientific or technological endeavours and not others;
• Evaluate the design of a technology and the way it functions based on a variety of criteria.

You Should Know...

The federal government, through several departments, is helping Canadians to meet critical environmental challenges. A higher profile of scientific research and accomplishments is helping Canadians become more aware that science is the basis of many federal policies aimed at ensuring them a high quality of life. The 5NR - five federal government departments dealing with natural resources (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Health Canada, and Natural Resources Canada) - have emerged as important players in the government agenda for safeguarding human health, economic prosperity and environmental integrity. The research work on the Shepody potato is an example of one of these accomplishments that has had tremendous effects on the economic well being of the potato industry in Atlantic Canada.

The new science curriculum emphasizes the role of reproduction as an essential biological mechanism for the continuity and diversity of species. Students should be provided with opportunities to explore the fundamental processes of reproduction and the transmission of traits from one living generation to the next (using, for example, the development of the Shepody potato).

Although asexual reproduction is common in seed plants, sexual reproduction is the major method of reproduction. It is essential to provide the degree of variability required to exist in a diverse and changing terrestrial environment.

Questions

1. What are the physical characteristics of the Shepody potato that make it so successful in the "French fry" industry?
2. What are the characteristics of the Shepody potato that have made it such a success in terms of its growth in Atlantic Canada?
3. What does Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada use as a measure of the success of the Shepody potato?
4. According to the video, the Shepody potato was developed "the old fashioned way". What does this mean?
5. From the video, outline the steps involved in the plant breeding process. How many seedlings did they have to generate to get "the perfect spud"?

Reflection

1. Review the following terms and their significance for plant reproduction: flower, stamen, perianth, carpel, microsporangium, megasporangium, female gametophyte, male gametophyte.
2. What is the significance of the research that took place to develop the Shepody potato, from the following perspectives: a Canadian potato farmer; a manufacturer of French fries; a Canadian consumer; the Canadian economy?
3. The majority of Canadians are NOT involved in agriculture. However it is important that the Canadian government continue to work on research in the agricultural area. Why?
4. What other areas of research are significant ones for the continued development of the Canadian economy?
5. What are the skills required for an individual to be involved in the development of research? What are the educational prerequisites for research-oriented careers?
6. The development of the Shepody potato, and others involved in the French fry industry, is a result of partnerships between government and primary industry (the farmers themselves). Why is it important for these types of partnerships to flourish in Canada?
7. French fries are a major export from Canada to the United States. Since 1993, the volume of agricultural trade between Canada and the United States (and Mexico) has jumped significantly. How is this related to the continued research program initiated and developed by the Canadian government?
8. Debate the following question... Should biotechnology be used to rapidly propagate species? Or... Should biotechnology be used to rapidly propagate an endangered plant species?

Web Sites

www.agr.gc.ca
www.strategis.ic.gc.ca
www.collegegrad.com/career/sciencecareer.shtml
http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/randd/areas/biotechnology_e.html

Assessment and Evaluation

Develop a plan to evaluate the potential application of biotechnology into plant breeding by completing a risk/benefit analysis which should consider such elements as safety, efficiency of practice, quality of life, long and short range implications, cost-effectiveness.