Human Genome Project

May, 2009: The recent children’s health bill introduced in Congress has a little discussed but controversial requirement attached: all children born in the United States will be required to have a genetic fingerprint on file. A genetic fingerprint is a record of the unique genetic makeup of an individual. Advocates hope that combining this individual record with the information from the Human Genome Project will lead to improved health for all children.

Congratulations! You are part of an elite group selected to offer advice to Congress. It is your job to use the provided resources to become an expert on genetics so you can give Congress a clear answer on whether babies should be genetically fingerprinted or not.

Before becoming an expert on genetic testing, we'd better make sure that everyone in your group knows the basics. Use the links below to answer the question:

1) What are A, T, G and C?

2) What is Deoxyribonucleic Acid?

3) What is a gene?

4) What is a chromosome?

5) What is the human genome?

6) What is genetic testing?

7) What is the Human Genome Project?

Make sure everyone on your team can answer all the questions before moving into your individual roles.

Genomics 101 The Basics

Genome Glossary

The Human Genome Project

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 different aspects of the question and then come together to pool their learning. This is where teamwork pays off. Each team member will create a graphic organizer that shows all issues (pros/cons) and supporting details. So are you ready to divide and conquer this question?

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. 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) What are the benefits of genetic testing?

What Can the New Gene Tests Tell Us?

Genetic Testing Opens Brave New World

Genetic Testing Can Lead to Individualized Therapy

Insurance Representative

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. While searching, consider the following questions:

1)How is genetic testing currently affecting health, life and disability insurance? Consider premiums as well as coverage.

2)How will genetic testing affect insurance coverage in the future?

3)What are some drawbacks of genetic testing?

4) What are the benefits of genetic testing?

CNN Genetic Testing and Insurance

The Implication of Genetic Testing on Life Insurance

Gene Testing Poses Social Dilemmas

Understanding Gene Testing

Gene Testing may affect Insurance Industry

Legislator

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 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)What are some drawbacks of genetic testing?

4) What are the benefits of genetic testing?

Protecting Genetic Privacy

Protecting the rights of individuals and health care institutions.

Genetic Privacy

Gene Testing Who Benefits

Ethicist

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)What are some drawbacks of genetic testing?

4) What are the benefits of genetic testing?

Ethical Issues of the Human Genome Project

What Can We Expect

Human Genome Diversity Project

Bioethics: Draft of a Universal Declaration on the human genome

New genetic tests provide fresh grounds for discrimination

Sports Commissioner

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 engineering in sports?

2)How will genetic engineering impact the future of sports?

3)What are some drawbacks of genetic testing?

4) What are the benefits of genetic testing?

Has Science Improved Sports?

Sports: ESPN Genetic Testing Beckons

Sports Medicine: Genetic Susceptibility to Brain Injury in

Group Synthesis

Congratulations! Each person on your team has become experts on genetic testing. You've all learned a lot of information. As a group you must carefully evaluate the data, form a consensus, and make a final recommendation to congress.

Your group should create a PowerPoint presentation that answers the key questions for each role assigned and makes a clear, supported recommendation to Congress. 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.

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?