Biology Year 12 - Module 7 - Lesson 20
Indigenous Protocols and Bush Medicine
1. Key Ideas
A West Australian plant used by Aboriginal communities for generations was found to contain compounds active against HIV. A US government agency filed a patent on it. The community that had known about it for millennia received nothing — and had no legal standing to object. This lesson is about who owns traditional knowledge, and why the answer matters for medicine.
- What bush medicine is and how it is used
- Why intellectual property law inadequately protects traditional knowledge under current frameworks
2. Success Criteria
By the end, you should be able to:
- What bush medicine is and how it is used
- Key examples of Australian bush medicine plants and their documented properties
- What biopiracy is and how it occurs
3. Key Terms
4. Activity: Build the Lesson Map
Use the lesson to complete the table. Keep answers brief but specific.
| Prompt | Your answer |
|---|---|
| Main concept | |
| Important example | |
| Common mistake to avoid | |
| How this links to the next lesson |
5. Short Answer Questions
1. Explain this lesson goal in your own words: "What bush medicine is and how it is used". Use one specific example from the lesson.
2. Apply this idea to a new example: "Key examples of Australian bush medicine plants and their documented properties". Show your reasoning clearly.
3. Analyse why this idea matters for understanding Indigenous Protocols and Bush Medicine: "What biopiracy is and how it occurs".
6. Extend: Apply the Idea
A student gives a memorised answer about Indigenous Protocols and Bush Medicine but does not use evidence or reasoning.
Improve the answer by writing a stronger response that uses accurate terminology, a relevant example and a clear explanation.
7. Multiple Choice
1. What is the best first step when answering a question about Indigenous Protocols and Bush Medicine?
A. Identify the key concept being tested
B. Write every fact from memory
C. Ignore the command word
D. Skip examples and evidence
2. Which answer would show stronger understanding of Indigenous Protocols and Bush Medicine?
A. An answer with accurate terms and reasoning
B. A copied definition only
C. A single-word response
D. An answer with no example
3. What should you do if a question asks you to explain?
A. Link the idea to a reason or cause
B. List unrelated facts
C. Only draw a diagram
D. Write the shortest possible answer
8. Success Criteria Proof
Finish with evidence that you can do each success criterion.