Download Human Genetic Disease Research Project

NNHS Biology 2016-17
Name(s): ___________________________________________ Block:
______
Human Genetic Disease Research Project
Objectives:

Research a human genetic disease using primary sources.

Present your information to the class in the form of a handout.
Directions:
Create a one-page brochure for a doctor’s office waiting room. The brochure should provide patients with
information about a genetic disorder that interests you. Assume that most of the patients of your audience
are adults with a typical high school science background. The brochure should be creative as well as
informative. You want people to pick it up and read through it.
What to include:
Research the genetic disorder of your choice using the following guiding questions:
 What other names are there for this disorder? (Any common names?)
 What is the genetic cause of the disorder? (mutation, nondisjunction)
 Which gene(s) or chromosome is affected by this disorder?
 How is it inherited? (Is it sex-linked, recessive, and/or dominant?)
 What population is affected?
 Can anyone be a candidate for the disorder?
 Are there prenatal tests for this disorder?
 What are the symptoms?
 What kind of medical assistance does the affected individual need?
 What is the long-term prognosis (outlook) for an individual with this disease?
 Are there any treatments or cures?
 Could this disorder have been prevented?
 Can this individual have children in the future? Will their children be affected?
 What is the current status of research on this disorder?
Be sure to include:
 Accurate, up-to-date information and graphics that illustrate important ideas.
 One single-spaced page (8.5” x 11”) filled with information and graphics.
 Visual images that illustrate your research (pedigree, graphs, charts, pictures etc.).
 A title –> what’s the disease?
 Footnote sources for all images that are not original artwork.
 Bibliography with references for three or more sources on a separate page (or on the back).
No plagiarism! References will be checked.
Any work that is not presented in your own words must include proper acknowledgement and citation.
Some examples of websites for your research include:
Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
www.genome.gov
National Institute of Health Office of Rare Diseases
Center for Disease Control Genetic Information
International Birth Defects Information Systems
Adapted using projects from the Robbinsdale and Santa Barbara School Districts.