Abstract
To promote public understanding of plant biotechnology and gene literacy, we have developed two educational materials for secondary education in high school. The first is using the pea mutants that were studied by Mendel for the discovery of the low of inheritance. We could visualize the differences in DNA fragments containing wild and mutant loci using PCR and gel electrophoresis. Students can experience the low of inheritance through molecular practice. The second is using so-called abc mutants of homeotic genes for flower bud formation in Arabidopsis, that were used for the construction of the ABC model by Bowman et al. In the classroom, students make floral diagram of some garden flowers at first, and then observed the flower of the mutants of Arabidopsis with binocular. Students can experience gene function through morphological observation. We applied both materials to super science high schools etc. and got good reputations.
