MS-LS4-5 | Human Influence on Inheritance · NYS standard · Grade 8 test questions
Gather and synthesize information about the technologies that have changed the way humans influence the inheritance of desired traits in organisms.
Clarification statement: Emphasis is on synthesizing information from reliable sources about the influence of humans on genetic outcomes in artificial selection (such as genetic modification, selective breeding, gene therapy); and, on the impacts these technologies have on society.
Grade 8 Science Test Questions
Released New York State Grade 8 science test questions that assess MS-LS4-5 are listed here by test and question cluster. Each link opens the question with its answer key.
| Exam | Cluster | Question |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2025 Grade 8 Test | Sickle Cell Anemia | Question 41 |
| Spring 2024 Grade 8 Test | Variation and Corn | Question 6 |
| Variation and Corn | Question 7 | |
| Variation and Corn | Question 9 |
Vocabulary
Terms from the Middle School Science Glossary that come from this standard or from the released Grade 8 Science Test questions that assess it.
- artificial selection
- desired trait
- gather and synthesize information
- gene
- gene therapy
- genetic modification
- genetic outcome
- human influence
- impact on society
- inheritance
- offspring
- organism
- parental trait
- reliable source
- selective breeding
- society
- technology
- trait
- ancestor – Spring 2024
- animal – Spring 2024
- bacteria – Spring 2024
- biodiversity – Spring 2024
- blood cell – Spring 2025
- body cell – Spring 2025
- cell – Spring 2025
- cell part – Spring 2025
- CRISPR gene editing – Spring 2025
- crop – Spring 2024
- evidence – Spring 2024
- flower – Spring 2024
- food crop – Spring 2024
- generation – Spring 2024
- genetic engineering – Spring 2024
- genetic make-up – Spring 2024
- genetic material – Spring 2025, Spring 2024
- insect – Spring 2024
- insect pest – Spring 2024
- insect-resistant gene – Spring 2024
- mutated gene – Spring 2025
- mutation – Spring 2025
- natural selection – Spring 2024
- parent – Spring 2024
- pest – Spring 2024
- plant – Spring 2024
- red blood cell – Spring 2025
- seed – Spring 2024
- sickle cell anemia – Spring 2025
- variation – Spring 2024
Performance Level Descriptions
Every Grade 8 Science Test question on MS-LS4-5 is written to match one of the performance level descriptions (PLDs) below.
Resources
Examples and discussion of resources for the learning, teaching, and assessment of MS-LS4-5.
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NGSS Dimensions
Performance expectation MS-LS4-5 was developed using the following elements from the NRC document A Framework for K-12 Science Education:
- Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
- Gather, read, and synthesize information from multiple appropriate sources and assess the credibility, accuracy, and possible bias of each publication and methods used, and describe how they are supported or not supported by evidence.
- LS4.B: Natural Selection
- In artificial selection, humans have the capacity to influence certain characteristics of organisms by selective breeding. Once can choose desired parental traits determined by genes, which are then passed on to offspring.
- Cause and Effect
- Phenomena may have more than one cause, and some cause and effect relationships in systems can only be described using probability.