Human Genome Group Project
Senator Fullokrappe introduces a bill into Congress that causes pandemonium!
He wants to require that all newborn babies be genetically fingerprinted, and that the government should have access to the information gained from these tests. He feels that with the information gained through this, in comparison to the data obtained via the Human Genome Project, our country will be a "safer" place. The media has released this information to the public, and many concerned citizens have come forward to express their opinion. Congress has questioned if this law would be beneficial or harmful, so a committee composed of representatives from different interest groups has been formed to study the issue. |
The Question:
Should Congress pass a bill to require genetic fingerprinting of all babies born in the United States? Why or why not?
Background Information:
Before becoming an expert on genetic testing, we'd better make sure that everyone on your team knows the basics. First, watch the following video on the history of the Human Genome Project...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhoEvAY0ToM
If you still need a little more background information on DNA and the human genome, take a look at the following 2 links...
Individual Roles:
Now that you have some overall background knowledge, it's time to return to the main question for this project. Questions this big and important are better answered when a few people are working on it at one time. Things work even better when a group decides to look at the question from different perspectives. This way team members can become experts on various aspects of the question and then come together to poll their learning. This is where teamwork pays off. Each team member will create an infographic using Canva, that shows all issues (pros/cons) and supporting details. So, are you ready to divide and conquer this question?
Canva Join Link: https://www.canva.com/brand/join?token=9xEIEqzmJVfKRzMsuTikWg&brandingVariant=edu&referrer=team-invite
Infographic Requirements:
Doctor:
Use the links below to learn more about your role. You will look at how gene testing will affect the future of the medical field and your patients. While searching, consider the following questions:
1) How is genetic testing currently used in the medical field?
2) How will genetic testing affect the future of medicine?
3) What are some drawbacks of genetic testing?
4) People are currently able to use at-home genetic testing kits (23&Me, Ancestry.com). Should your doctor have access to this data to make better decisions about your health?
Insurance Company:
Use the links below to learn more about your role. You will look at how gene testing will affect the future of the insurance field. Remember, most insurance companies want to make a profit. While searching, consider the following questions:
1) How is genetic testing currently affecting health, life and disability insurance?
2) How will genetic testing affect insurance coverage in the future?
3) People are currently able to use at-home genetic testing kits (23&Me, Ancestry.com). Should this data be reported to your insurance company?
4) Should insurance companies be able to charge people different rates based on the results of genetic testing?
Law Maker:
Use the links below to learn more about your role. You will look at how gene testing will affect the future of the people in the United States, keep in mind that you are concerned with the rights and privacy of ALL people. While searching, consider the following questions:
1) Considering different ethnic groups, how is genetic testing currently affecting citizens of the United States?
2) How will genetic testing affect citizens in the future?
3) People are currently able to use at-home genetic testing kits (23&Me, Ancestry.com). Should the government have access to this data? If so, what should they be able to do with it?
4) Should a person's genetic testing information remain private? Who should have access to this information?
Ethicist:
An ethicist uses evidence to inform people if an issue is ethically "right" or "wrong". There are many issues that can influence this decision. Use the links below to learn more about your role. Specifically, look for answers to the following questions:
1) What are the ethical issues concerning genetic testing?
2) How will these issues play a role in creating policies and procedures related to genetic testing?
3) Could current, at-home genetic testing be used to draw a divide among cultures/ethnicity/socioeconomic groups?
4) Who "owns" the data from at-home genetic testing kits? The patient or the company who has the patent on the technology? How can people ensure that their genetic information stays with them?
Ethical Issues of the Human Genome Project
Policy and Ethical Issues
Human Genome Diversity Project
Bioethics: Universal Declaration on the human genome
New genetic tests provide fresh grounds for discrimination
Sports Commissioner:
A sports commissioner can benefit from knowing more about its current or future players. Genetics could potentially open a brand- new world of information to the league. Use the links below to learn more about your role. Specifically, look for answers to the following questions:
1) What are the issues of genetic testing/modification in sports?
2) How will genetic testing impact the future of sports?
3) Is there a difference between genetic testing/modification and other medical "training" (HGH, Hormones, Steroids, etc.)? Should this be allowed in sports?
4) Should athletes be mandated to have genetic tests done, so that owners can better judge their "investments"? If so, in what level of athletes should this be mandated? (High School, College, Pro?)
Stuck on Reasearch? Try AI!
Group Synthesis:
Congratulations! Your team is now full of expertise. Each person on your team has become an expert on genetic testing. You've all learned a lot of information. But guess what, gathering useful information isn't the same as understanding a topic.
So, with your team members all gathered, carefully evaluate the data, form a consensus, and make a final recommendation in the form of a presentation.
Your project team should create a presentation (PowerPoint, Canva Presentation, Prezi, etc.) Make sure you have an answer that everyone on the team can live with. This presentation will be used by your team to make a recommendation to Congress.
Your final presentation should include the following...
GRADE WEIGHT
Conclusion:
At the beginning of this activity, you were asked to make a recommendation. Did your committee come to a consensus? Was there only one right answer? Did everyone on your team agree with the recommendation? Was your opinion different from the recommendation?
Should Congress pass a bill to require genetic fingerprinting of all babies born in the United States? Why or why not?
Background Information:
Before becoming an expert on genetic testing, we'd better make sure that everyone on your team knows the basics. First, watch the following video on the history of the Human Genome Project...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhoEvAY0ToM
If you still need a little more background information on DNA and the human genome, take a look at the following 2 links...
Individual Roles:
Now that you have some overall background knowledge, it's time to return to the main question for this project. Questions this big and important are better answered when a few people are working on it at one time. Things work even better when a group decides to look at the question from different perspectives. This way team members can become experts on various aspects of the question and then come together to poll their learning. This is where teamwork pays off. Each team member will create an infographic using Canva, that shows all issues (pros/cons) and supporting details. So, are you ready to divide and conquer this question?
Canva Join Link: https://www.canva.com/brand/join?token=9xEIEqzmJVfKRzMsuTikWg&brandingVariant=edu&referrer=team-invite
Infographic Requirements:
- Infographic should be visually appealing (no blank-white backgrounds please)
- Infographic should include graphics or pictures
- All 4 questions should be listed on the infographic.
- Well-researched answers should be written under each question. Answers should be multiple sentences AND based on research.
- Remember, you are answering these questions from the perspective of your role, NOT your individual opinions!
- Infographic should be downloaded as a .pdf/.png/.jpg file and uploaded to Schoology when complete!
Doctor:
Use the links below to learn more about your role. You will look at how gene testing will affect the future of the medical field and your patients. While searching, consider the following questions:
1) How is genetic testing currently used in the medical field?
2) How will genetic testing affect the future of medicine?
3) What are some drawbacks of genetic testing?
4) People are currently able to use at-home genetic testing kits (23&Me, Ancestry.com). Should your doctor have access to this data to make better decisions about your health?
- What Can the New Gene Tests Tell Us?
- Genetic Testing Opens Brave New World
- What is personalized medicine?
- Doctor, Have you had your DNA tested?
- Benefits and Risks of Genetic Testing
- Pros and Cons of Genetic Testing
Insurance Company:
Use the links below to learn more about your role. You will look at how gene testing will affect the future of the insurance field. Remember, most insurance companies want to make a profit. While searching, consider the following questions:
1) How is genetic testing currently affecting health, life and disability insurance?
2) How will genetic testing affect insurance coverage in the future?
3) People are currently able to use at-home genetic testing kits (23&Me, Ancestry.com). Should this data be reported to your insurance company?
4) Should insurance companies be able to charge people different rates based on the results of genetic testing?
- CNN Genetic Testing and Insurance
- The Implication of Genetic Testing on Life Insurance
- Gene Testing Poses Social Dilemmas
- Will Genetic Tests Can Hurt Your Chances of Insurance
- Gene Testing may affect Insurance Industry
- Newborn DNA Sequencing and Genetic Privacy
Law Maker:
Use the links below to learn more about your role. You will look at how gene testing will affect the future of the people in the United States, keep in mind that you are concerned with the rights and privacy of ALL people. While searching, consider the following questions:
1) Considering different ethnic groups, how is genetic testing currently affecting citizens of the United States?
2) How will genetic testing affect citizens in the future?
3) People are currently able to use at-home genetic testing kits (23&Me, Ancestry.com). Should the government have access to this data? If so, what should they be able to do with it?
4) Should a person's genetic testing information remain private? Who should have access to this information?
- Protecting Genetic Privacy
- Protecting the rights of individuals and health care institutions.
- Genetic Privacy
- Gene Testing Who Benefits
- Genetic Information Privacy?
Ethicist:
An ethicist uses evidence to inform people if an issue is ethically "right" or "wrong". There are many issues that can influence this decision. Use the links below to learn more about your role. Specifically, look for answers to the following questions:
1) What are the ethical issues concerning genetic testing?
2) How will these issues play a role in creating policies and procedures related to genetic testing?
3) Could current, at-home genetic testing be used to draw a divide among cultures/ethnicity/socioeconomic groups?
4) Who "owns" the data from at-home genetic testing kits? The patient or the company who has the patent on the technology? How can people ensure that their genetic information stays with them?
Ethical Issues of the Human Genome Project
Policy and Ethical Issues
Human Genome Diversity Project
Bioethics: Universal Declaration on the human genome
New genetic tests provide fresh grounds for discrimination
Sports Commissioner:
A sports commissioner can benefit from knowing more about its current or future players. Genetics could potentially open a brand- new world of information to the league. Use the links below to learn more about your role. Specifically, look for answers to the following questions:
1) What are the issues of genetic testing/modification in sports?
2) How will genetic testing impact the future of sports?
3) Is there a difference between genetic testing/modification and other medical "training" (HGH, Hormones, Steroids, etc.)? Should this be allowed in sports?
4) Should athletes be mandated to have genetic tests done, so that owners can better judge their "investments"? If so, in what level of athletes should this be mandated? (High School, College, Pro?)
- Performance Enhancing Genes
- Sports: ESPN Genetic Testing Beckons
- Can Genes Predict Athletic Performance?
- Genetic Testing in Sports - Science or Snake Oil?
- Decoding the DNA of 5 Olympic Athletes
Stuck on Reasearch? Try AI!
Group Synthesis:
Congratulations! Your team is now full of expertise. Each person on your team has become an expert on genetic testing. You've all learned a lot of information. But guess what, gathering useful information isn't the same as understanding a topic.
So, with your team members all gathered, carefully evaluate the data, form a consensus, and make a final recommendation in the form of a presentation.
Your project team should create a presentation (PowerPoint, Canva Presentation, Prezi, etc.) Make sure you have an answer that everyone on the team can live with. This presentation will be used by your team to make a recommendation to Congress.
Your final presentation should include the following...
- Only be 3-4 slides long
- 1st slide should be a cover slide with group member names and a title
- 2nd slide should tell the audience what your recommendation is (We recommend that the law should be passed. / We recommend that this law should NOT be passed. / We recommend that the law should be passed, BUT with the following modifications...[list modifications here])
- 3rd-4th slide should give the evidence on WHY you are giving your recommendation. You should be pulling information from your individual role research and using it here.
GRADE WEIGHT
- INDIVIDUAL ROLE INFOGRAPHIC = 75%
- GROUP CONCLUSION SLIDES = 25%
Conclusion:
At the beginning of this activity, you were asked to make a recommendation. Did your committee come to a consensus? Was there only one right answer? Did everyone on your team agree with the recommendation? Was your opinion different from the recommendation?