Alzheimer's Disease
(Video)
A Family Disease
(Video)
Finding Cures Is Hard
(Video)
Finding Disease Genes
(Video)
How to Conquer a Genetic Disease
(Document)
Nature vs. Nurture Revisited
(Document)
Understanding Gene Testing
(Document)
In this activity, students view case studies about two genetically related diseases: Alzheimer's and breast cancer. They decide if they would choose to have genetic testing in these situations. Students continually reevaluate their decisions as they learn more about gene testing, family disease pedigrees, the role of the environment vs. genetics in causing disease, and possible treatments for genetic diseases.
1. Show the videos Alzheimer's Disease and A Family Disease. Ask students to discuss the following in small groups:
2. Have students use the Personal Opinion Record (PDF) sheet to record their decision and explanation for it under the heading "Take One."
3. Survey the class for the results of their discussion, and record it on the board.
4. Introduce the video Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis as one of the newest ways to do prenatal testing. Discuss the following:
5. Hand out and have all students read the section "What is gene testing?" from Understanding Gene Testing noting questions that arise during their reading. Answer any student questions.
6. Give students the four jigsaw sections from Understanding Gene Testing and have them explore genetic testing by doing a jigsaw (Jigsaw Explanation (PDF)). Have teams of students divide up and read their assigned sections from Understanding Gene Testing identifying at least three key ideas. Then have students teach the key ideas of their topic to the rest of their group.
7. When teams have completed the jigsaw, ask students if what they have just learned causes them to reconsider their earlier decision about genetic testing, which they recorded on their Personal Opinion Record (PDF) sheet. Have them write their current decision under the heading "Take Two."
8. Show the video Finding Disease Genes. Ask:
9. Give out and have students read the section "How do scientists develop predictive gene tests?" from Understanding Gene Testing. This section describes how researchers create pedigrees for genetic diseases.
10. Ask students if what they have just learned makes them reconsider their earlier decision about genetic testing, which they recorded on their Personal Opinion Record (PDF) sheet. Have them write their current decision under the heading "Take Three."
11. Have students read the Nature vs. Nurture Revisited essay.
12. Ask students if what they have just learned causes them to reconsider their decision about genetic testing once again. Have them write their current position and explanation under the heading "Take Four."
13. Have students read How to Conquer a Genetic Disease. Then show the Genetic Therapy and Breast Tumors and Finding Cures Is Hard videos to demonstrate to students how medical researchers are beginning to use what they have learned to treat genetic diseases.
14. Ask students one last time if what they have just learned causes them to reconsider their earlier decisions about genetic testing. Restate the question:
Have them write their final decision under the heading "Final Take." Tally class results again and compare them to the first results on the board. Discuss any changes in opinions. Ask:
15. Optional: Have students write an essay explaining their decision about genetic testing.