What Methods of Genetic Testing Exist?
There are a number of genetic tests that may be preformed depending on the nature of the situation. The three main forms of genetic testing are carrier testing, prenatal testing and newborn screening. These tests vary in timing, intrusiveness and associated risk.
LESSON OVERVIEW (SPECIFIC EXPECTATIONS: D1.1, D1.2, D2.1, D3.4)
Lesson Hook:
The following video courtesy of Youtube is a great way to introduce the concept of carrier testing and follows the approach taken with the lesson on ethical implications quite well. Alternatively or in addition to the video given below,` videos of prenatal testing and newborn screening can also be shown.
There are a number of genetic tests that may be preformed depending on the nature of the situation. The three main forms of genetic testing are carrier testing, prenatal testing and newborn screening. These tests vary in timing, intrusiveness and associated risk.
LESSON OVERVIEW (SPECIFIC EXPECTATIONS: D1.1, D1.2, D2.1, D3.4)
Lesson Hook:
The following video courtesy of Youtube is a great way to introduce the concept of carrier testing and follows the approach taken with the lesson on ethical implications quite well. Alternatively or in addition to the video given below,` videos of prenatal testing and newborn screening can also be shown.
Pedagogy:
After students have grasped the different methods of testing and the purpose behind them, the natural next step would be to discuss how the testing is preformed. For an introduction to the different techniques of microbiology, students can perform a virtual lab such as the electrophoresis virtual lab given below courtesy of The University of Utah. PCR and Microarray virtual labs can be found in the teaching ideas section of the website under interactive animations and simulations.
After students have grasped the different methods of testing and the purpose behind them, the natural next step would be to discuss how the testing is preformed. For an introduction to the different techniques of microbiology, students can perform a virtual lab such as the electrophoresis virtual lab given below courtesy of The University of Utah. PCR and Microarray virtual labs can be found in the teaching ideas section of the website under interactive animations and simulations.
For a more hands-on inquiry based approach, students can actually perform an electrophoresis lab. It is suggested that at this point, students produce a formal lab write-up in order to better prepare them for the typical requirements of most universities. Click below to download an electrophoresis lab complete with discussion questions courtesy of Franklin & Marshall College that also reviews the concepts of Punnett Squares and family pedigrees.
electrophoresis_lab.doc | |
File Size: | 77 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Debrief:
Running a full lab may take all class to complete, with the discussion questions and lab write-up to be left for homework. As such, it may be a good idea to take 5-10 minutes at the end of class to go through the results found and remind students of formal lab write-up requirements so that they have something to work off of when completing the lab.
FOPP: Commitment to students and student learning, professional knowledge, professional practice, and ongoing professional learning.
Running a full lab may take all class to complete, with the discussion questions and lab write-up to be left for homework. As such, it may be a good idea to take 5-10 minutes at the end of class to go through the results found and remind students of formal lab write-up requirements so that they have something to work off of when completing the lab.
FOPP: Commitment to students and student learning, professional knowledge, professional practice, and ongoing professional learning.