Download GENETIC DISORDER RESEARCH PACKET

GENETIC DISORDER RESEARCH PACKET PART I
My assigned genetic disorder is
In order to summarize your knowledge of cells, cell division, genetics, DNA, and
proteins, you are being assigned a genetic disorder to research. Genetic disorders
are caused by changes to DNA. These changes are either really small and involve
only one tiny piece of DNA or really large and result in an entire missing
chromosome. Either way, the affect on how someone lives their life can be
dramatic. Additionally, some genetic disorders mean that a person may require
someone to care for them their entire life.
It is your goal to learn more about the genetic disorder to which you have been
assigned. You will be performing this research in segments beginning with basic
background information regarding the symptoms of the disease. By periodically
working on learning about this disorder, you will have less work to do for the final
project.
What is the final project? Rather than write a traditional research paper, we are
asking that you create an informational brochure about your assigned genetic
disorder. Your audience for this brochure is either someone who has just been
diagnosed as having this genetic disorder or someone who is the parent or child of
someone who has been diagnosed. Your teacher will show you examples of good
brochures so you can be familiar with the qualities you should include in your
brochure.
GENETIC DISORDER PROJECT ASSIGNMENT #1 –
1. What are some of the symptoms of your assigned genetic disorder? Answer in
complete sentences. Be sure to attach a copy of your references to the
homework packet.
GENETIC DISORDER RESEARCH PACKET PART II
My assigned genetic disorder is
Answer in complete sentences. Be sure to attach a copy of your references to
the homework packet.
GENETIC DISORDER PROJECT ASSIGNMENT #2 –
1. How common is this disorder?
2. How long do people usually live with this disorder? You may want to search
terms such as “life expectancy”.
GENETIC DISORDER RESEARCH PACKET PART III
My assigned genetic disorder is
Answer in complete sentences. Be sure to attach a copy of your references to
the homework packet.
GENETIC DISORDER PROJECT ASSIGNMENT #3 –
Whenever you are sick, you want to get better as quickly as possible. Who wants to
feel sick, right? Some of the medications such as cough syrup are treatments. In
other words, they treat the symptoms of coughing even though you still have the
flu. Other medications such as vaccines are cures which end the illness – you no
longer have the flu nor will you ever get it again.
Currently, there are no cures for genetic disorders. The cause of any genetic
disorder is that person’s genes. Either an entire chromosome is changed in some
way or only a small part (a gene) is affected. Either way, the only way to cure a
genetic disorder is to fix the chromosome or gene – in every cell in their body!
Remember, there are over 1 trillion cells. There are some disorders for which
there may be a cure soon. For cystic fibrosis, scientists are researching ways of
inserting healthy genes into a person using a method called gene therapy. However,
the use of gene therapy to cure genetic disorders is years away.
1. Why aren’t there any cures for genetic disorders?
2. What are the treatments for your assigned genetic disorder?
3. At this point in your research, you now know the symptoms, life expectancy, and
treatments of this disorder. What would it be like to life with this disorder?
Write a paragraph that describes what it would be like to live with your
assigned genetic disorder. You may write your paragraph from the perspective
of a person living with this disorder or someone who is caring for a person who
has this disorder.
4. GOOD FOR COMP LAB WORKDAY!
1. Define the following terms:
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Chromosome Disorder:
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Gene Disorder:
2. Is your assigned disorder a chromosome disorder or a gene disorder? You will
probably not find a statement such as “Cystic Fibrosis is a gene disorder.”
Instead, you may need to decide for yourself based on your research.
For chromosome disorders only:
-
Which chromosome is causing this disorder?
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How is this chromosome affected? Chromosome disorders are not
dominant or recessive like gene disorders. Instead, your answer may be
something like monosomy (a missing chromosome), trisomy (an extra
chromosome), deletion (large portion of chromosome missing) or addition
(large portion of chromosome repeated).
For gene disorders only:
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What is the name of the gene that is causing this genetic disorder?
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Which chromosome is this gene on?