Download Small is the New Big: An Introduction to Genomics A Genome BC

Small is the New Big: An Introduction to Genomics
A Genome BC Cooperative Learning Activity
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My Name: _______________ __________________
Team name: __________________
Names of my other Team members
_______________ __________________
_______________ __________________
_______________ __________________
Introduction
Genome BC (GBC) is a non-profit organization that funds genomics
research in British Columbia. What is genomics and how could it change
your life? That’s exactly what you will discover in this cooperative learning
activity.
Your Mission
Your teacher will assign you to a cooperative learning team. Use the
electronic flip-book version of Genome BC’s 2011-2012 Annual Report
(www.genomebc.ca) to become an expert on the section(s) or page(s) of
the report assigned to you. Then, following your teacher’s instructions,
share your new knowledge with your teammates so that they will also
become informed. Have fun learning and sharing information about
genomics research in our Province.
Here are some glossary terms to start you off:
Glossary
Trait: a characteristic of a person (ex. eye colour, hair colour).
Genome: an organism’s complete set of genetic material, the sum total of all the
genetic instruction required to make a living thing.
Genetics: a branch of science in which we study how the information contained in living
cells controls the traits of organisms and how these traits are passed along to (inherited
by) offspring.
Please see page 2 for additional glossary terms.
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Small is the New Big: An Introduction to Genomics (page 2)
DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the chemical
compound that contains the instructions organisms
need to develop and direct their activities. DNA
molecules are made of two twisting, paired strands,
often referred to as a double helix. The DNA molecule
looks like a twisted ladder. DNA was discovered in
1869. The (double-helix) structure of DNA was
discovered by James Watson and Francis Crick in
1953 with information provided by Rosalin Franklin. In
1962 Watson, Crick, and Maurice Wilkins jointly
received the Nobel Prize in Physiology (Medicine);
Franklin didn't share the prize with them since she had died earlier.
Genomics: is a discipline that studies the structure, function and inheritance of the genome.
Genomics enables the examination of molecular mechanisms and the interplay of genetic and
environmental factors in health and disease.
Chromosome: a structure found in the nucleus of
living cells. Each chromosome is made up of DNA
tightly coiled many times. Even under a
microscope, chromosomes located in the cell’s
nucleus are visible only when the cell is dividing.
During cell division, the DNA that makes up
chromosomes becomes more tightly packed and is
then visible under a microscope. Most of what
researchers know about chromosomes was
learned by observing them during cell division.
Gene: a section of the long DNA molecule that carries instructions for operating, repairing and
building the cells of an organism
For further reading
A Brief Guide to Genomics: www.genome.gov/18016863
In What Year was DNA Discovered:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070522225923AAdcMod
The Human Genome Project: A Decade of Discovery Creating a Healthy Future
www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=1FF2D5C43F315BC1
Genome BC: www.genomebc.ca
Each spring, BC students may register for Geneskool—a one week summer camp. Check us
out at: www.genomebc.ca/education/outreach-programs/geneskool-camp/.
Genome Canada: www.genomecanada.ca
What is a gene? http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/basics/gene
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Small is the New Big: An Introduction to Genomics
A Genome BC Cooperative Learning Activity
Cooperative Learning Tasks for All Team Members
A. Read and understand the glossary terms on pages 1 and 2 of this activity.
B. Read all of pages 3, 4 and 5 of Genome BC’s 2011-2012 Annual Report.
C. Answer the questions below. Become better informed.
D. Share your answers with the other members of your coop team.
E. Be prepared to write a mini-test on the answers to these questions.
F. Choose additional sections of the Annual Report to learn more about genomics.
Questions for All Team Members:
Reference: pages 3, 4 and 5 of Genome BC’s 2011-2012 Annual Report. www.genomebc.ca
Directions: Use complete sentences and your own words as often as possible.
1. a. In biology, what is the meaning of structure? (Use an electronic or paper dictionary.)
b. Name several structures of the human body.
2. a. What is the meaning of function?
b. Is this the same as the mathematics meaning of function? Explain.
c. Name the function(s) for each of the structures of the human body that you
listed in question 1b.
3. In biology, what is the meaning of inheritance?
4. Besides an organism’s genetics, what other factors affect health and disease?
5. How is a genome like a cooking recipe?
6. How many different bases (basic molecules) are there in human DNA?
7. What are the four letters that represent these bases?
8. How many base pairs (in total) are there on the entire human DNA molecule?
9. Do all organisms have a genome? Explain.
10. Name several human and environmental challenges that can be solved through
genomics.
11. Roughly how many genes (sections of chromosomes) are there in the human
genome?
12. A mustard weed plant is a lot simpler in structure than a human. Suggest one or
more reasons why the DNA of a mustard weed plant has more genes than human
DNA.
13. What is the goal of decoding the genome of cancer tumours?
14. Suggest three or more examples where studying DNA is, and will be, helpful for
humans.
Additional Genomics Activity
Your teacher may give you an internet link to an article about DNA. Read your article.
Develop a set of at least five questions and answers for your article. Then follow your
teacher’s instructions in order to share your article and questions (but not your answers)
with other members of your team or other students in your class.
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Small is the New Big:
A Genome BC Introduction to Genomics
Cooperative Learning Activity
Teacher’s Answer Key
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
a. In biology, structure refers to the parts of an organism (a living thing) and how they are
connected.
b. For example, the heart is one of the structures of a human.
a. In biology, function refers to the use(s) or purposes of a particular structure (part) of an
organism.
b. The word function, as it may be taught in mathematics, might appear to have a different
meaning. From Wikipedia: a function is a relation between a set of inputs and a set of
permissible outputs with the property that each input is related to exactly one output.
c. For example, one function of the heart is to pump blood throughout the body of an
organism.
In biology, inheritance refers to the traits (characteristics) that each child receives from
her/his parents.
On page 3 of the Genome BC 2011-2012 Annual Report, it says that, besides an
organism’s genetics, environmental factors also affect health and disease is.
On the left side of page 4, it says that a genome is like a cooking recipe because both have
discrete (individual) components that make up the whole. Students might also say that
changing one component of a genome or recipe can make a big difference in the
outcome (the organism or the food product). Students might also say that, like an
organism’s genome, a recipe can have many ingredients. Further, some ingredients are
essential to both a genome and a recipe and cannot be deleted or substituted.
There are (only) four bases (base pairs) in the genome of every organism.
The four letters that stand for the four bases (basic molecules or base pairs) that make up
the long DNA molecule are A, T, C and G (bottom left sided of Page 4). The article does
not indicate the full name of these four bases. They are: adenine, thymine, cytosine and
guanine.
There are approximately 3.2 billion pairs of bases (steps on the DNA molecule).
All organisms (and viruses) have a genome. [centre of page 4]
Examples of human challenges that genomics can solve are (page 4—Why Study
Organisms): problems of humans and organisms adapting to a changing climate; feeding
a growing human population (now over 7 billion); ensuring a clean water supply for
humans; reducing human dependence on fossil fuels (such as coal, gasoline and natural
gas).
There are about 23,000 genes in the human genome (top of page 5).
This question is not answered in the annual report. Some possible reasons why the DNA of
a mustard weed plant has more genes than human DNA are: each mustard weed gene
might be shorter; some of the genes might no longer function; each human gene might
be responsible for more functions than each mustard weed gene.
The goal of decoding the genome of cancer tumours is to identify the most effective
treatments. Also refer to the articles on personalized medicine on pages 8-11. In
personalized medicine, each person might have a unique chemical treatment for a
particular type of cancer as all tumours from a particular type of cancer are not
molecularly the same.
Examples (applications) where studying DNA is, and will be, helpful for humans are (page
5): treating cancer tumours, monitoring water sources for chemical contaminants,
remediating (cleaning-up) contaminated, abandoned mine sites; creating better fuels
using biomass (plant and animal waste).
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Internet Links for Additional Activities
July 4, 2012
Canadian family donates brains to UBC-led study
www.vancouversun.com/health/Canadian+family+donates+brains+study/6874972/story.html
------------------------------------------------------------July 09, 2012
Vancouver teen plays past rare genetic disorder
www.vancouversun.com/news/Vancouver+teen+plays+past+rare+genetic+disorder/6886472/st
ory.html
------------------------------------------------------------July 09, 2012
A killer begins to spill its secrets
http://publications.mcgill.ca/mcgillnews/2012/06/11/a-killer-begins-to-spill-its-secrets/
------------------------------------------------------------July 09, 2012
New Approach on Leukemia Brings Glimpse of the Future
www.theledger.com/article/20120707/NEWS/120709463/1410?Title=New-Approach-onLeukemia-Brings-Glimpse-of-the-Future
------------------------------------------------------------August 08, 2012
Research could lead to better treatment for childhood cancers
www.vancouversun.com/health/Research+could+lead+better+treatment+childhood+cancers/69
90403/story.html#ixzz22zHFJtlh
------------------------------------------------------------August 09, 2012
Latest issue of Biotechnology Focus
The July/August 2012 issue of Biotechnology Focus magazine is devoted to genomics and
includes an interview with Dr. Brad Popovich, Chief Scientific Officer of Genome BC.
http://biotechnologyfocus.ca/?p=352
------------------------------------------------------------August 12, 2012
Genetically modified mosquitoes divide scientists
http://metronews.ca/news/canada/334053/genetically-modified-mosquitoes-divide-sciencecommunity/
------------------------------------------------------------August 16, 2012
Best Friend, Best Model
www.genomeweb.com//node/1117966?hq_e=el&hq_m=1325865&hq_l=4&hq_v=17978e81ff
------------------------------------------------------------August 21, 2012
DNA test cuts down on timber trafficking
www.vancouversun.com/health/test+cuts+down+timber+trafficking/7115171/story.html
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Genome BC welcomes all teachers to take
advantage of our classroom ready resources!
www.genomebc.ca/education
We work with teachers and students across BC and the Yukon to provide free, handson science presentations and activities to their high school classrooms. We also partner
with local post-secondary institutions and offer full-day workshops for students in their
campus labs. Students solve a murder mystery CSI-style.
www.genomebc.ca/education
Geneskool Classroom Workshops and Summer Camps
Genome BC’s Travelling Suitcases are portable displays and hands-on materials for
use by teachers and community organizations. They’ve logged thousands of kilometres
as they toured science classrooms, Community Science Celebrations (in collaboration
with Science World at TELUS World of Science) and other education venues. Best of
all, we send them to you free of charge. Please contact Sheila Driscoll at
[email protected] for more details or to book.
Genetics Travelling Suitcases
On our website, you will find an array of on-line animations, case studies, videos,
articles and student activities that are scientifically accurate and designed for high
school students.
Geneskool Classroom Workshops and Summer Camps
If you have ideas for new classroom activities or other teaching resources, please
contact Sandy Wohl, Education Outreach Specialist at [email protected].
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Genome BC www.genomebc.ca/education
Genome British Columbia is a catalyst for the life sciences cluster on
Canada's West Coast and manages a cumulative portfolio of over $550M
in research projects and science and technology platforms. Working with
governments, academia and industry across sectors such as forestry,
fisheries, agriculture, environment, bioenergy, mining and human health the
goal of the organization is to generate social and economic benefits for
British Columbia and Canada.
Genome BC Foundation
The Genome BC Foundation was established in 2003 to promote life
sciences education and strengthen genomics education in BC. The
Foundation provides stimulus and funding for initiatives that enrich learning
experiences across the life sciences. One of the Foundation’s priorities is to
provide hands-on, experiential learning for BC high school students, which
allows them to see, feel and experience the life sciences. We also provide
on-line resources for teachers and support the professional development
initiatives of BC’s science education partners. By improving access to
genomics education and encouraging more students to pursue careers in
genomics-related fields, we are helping strengthen our province’s future.
For more information, please contact:
Sally Greenwood, VP Communications and Education
[email protected]
604-637-4373
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