University of Chicago - Graham School of General Studies - 1998 WWW for Teachers Seminar Module

! RESEARCH UPDATE  !

 
      The Human Genome Project
          The efforts of scientists involved in biotechnology and genetic engineering have resulted in a better understanding of the mechanisms of genetic disorders.  The purpose of this section is to investigate the Human Genome Project and the efforts being made to completely map and sequence all the genes (DNA) found in mankind.  Students will use this and additional knowledge to search specific sites to obtain the most current information regarding human genetic disorders.  Each "company" has been assigned a disease to study in depth and will report their findings to the class at-large.
        In this fourth activity for your certification, each group will complete  three tasks.

• Task 1
• Task 2
• Task 3

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Task 1:

     Using the sites listed below, answer the following questions  in a three page report  about the Human Genome Project:

1. What are the main purposes of the Human Genome Project?
2.  Briefly discuss the history of the Human Genome Project.
3.  What is the main goal of the Project?
4.  Discuss the bioethics involved in the use of this information.

Sites to examine:

Human Genome Project Information
Access Excellence - Go to " Issues " site and scroll down and click on 'Ethical Issues of the Human Genome Project.'
 Access Excellence -  Go to "Issues" site and scroll down and click on 'What Can We Expect From The Human Genome Project?'
 
 

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Task 2:

     To get an idea of the amount of information researchers need to complete the Human Genome Project, you will do the following:
 
          1.  Choose a page from one of your textbooks that has only text, no illustrations.
          2.  Count the number of characters (all letters, numbers, punctuation marks and
                spaces)  in five lines of text. Divide this number by five (5).  Your result is
                the average number of characters per line.
          3.  Count the number of lines on the page.  Multiply the number of lines by
               the average number of characters per line.  Your result is the average number
               of characters on a page.
          4.  Each character represents a DNA base.  Divide the average number
               of  characters per page by two (2)   in order to represent the number
               of "base pairs" per page.
          5.  Determine the number of pages in your textbook.  Multiply that number
               by the number of base pairs per  page.  How many base pairs are in the textbook?
          6.  The human genome has about 3 million base pairs.  How many books would
               you need to store all of  that information?
         7.  If you stacked all the textbooks you would need to "store" the Human
              Genome Project, how tall would   the stack be? (Hint:  Measure the
              thickness of one book and multiply it by the number of books in the
              above calculation.)

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Task 3:
 
        Your company has been assigned  one of the diseases listed below.  Using the Human Genome Map  and the sites given for your disease, write a report giving the symptoms, the specific chromosome,  coding problem or problems and any other current research.  Be sure to include the prognosis and possible treatment or environmental lifestyle changes that could impact on the quality of life for an individual so affected.

Albinism

International Albinism Center at the University of Minnesota.
National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation

Cystic Fibrosis

Family Guide to Cystic Fibrosis Genetic Testing
Living With Cystic Fibrosis

Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes Overview
 Current Therapy of Diabetes Mellitus
 Which Drug Therapy is Best
 Disease Management

Downs Syndrome

 Health Care Guidelines
 Parents Resource

Long QT Syndrome

 Long QT Syndrome
 Health Long QT

Thalassemia (Cooley's Anemia)

 Cooley's Anemia
 Joint Center for Sicklecell Anemia and Thallessemia Disorders
 Information Sheet

VonHippel Lindau Disease

 VonHippel Lindau Disease

Tay Sachs

 Public Information Sheet
 Minifact Sheet

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