StemCell Therapy

We create interactive lessons for high school and college educators to engage their students in discussions of ethics and personal genetics. The lessons are relevant to multiple subjects, including biology, health, social studies, law, physical education and psychology. All of our lesson plans contain background reading for teachers and students, a selection of classroom activities, discussion points, in some cases a slide presentation or video clip, and an evaluation. Each lesson can stand alone, or all the lessons can be taught as a unit.

**Updatedfor 2016**

Summary:This lesson introduces students to the recent advances in genetics, genetic testing and personal genome sequencing, and presents some of the decisions and ethical challenges an individual may face regarding the use of this technology. It also highlights some of the likely benefits of personal genetics, such as gaining the ability to act on ones genetic risks, tailoring medicines and interventions, and becoming more active and engaged healthcare consumers.

Activities:Do now exercise (7 minutes), slideshow (15-20 minutes), four corners discussion (15-25 minutes).

Download lesson plan: Word documentorPDFDownload slideshow: PowerPoint slidesTake a quiz: Genetics gets personal

**Updatedfor 2018**

Summary:This lesson provides students the opportunity to explore the excitement and challenges related to the direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing industry. How do consumers react to genetic information gleaned from DTC services? What information can be learned through a DTC test, and do consumers need or want a doctor or genetic counselor to access this information?

Activities:Do now exercise (10 minutes), Panel of experts debate (65-70 minutes).

Download lesson plan: Word documentorPDFClick here to learn about recent developments.

**Updatedfor 2018**

Summary:Personalized medicine, also referred to as precision medicine, holds great promise to improve healthcare. As the cost of genetic analysis decreases and research advances, it is becoming increasingly possible to include a persons genetic make-up in the repertoire of tools that inform their healthcare. This lesson asks students to delve into the hopes and challenges of personalized medicine and to consider the applications of genetic analysis in medicine.

Activities:Do now exercise (10-15 minutes), creating a brochure (40-60 minutes).

Download lesson plan: Word documentorPDFClick here to learn about recent developments.

Photo courtesy of Office of Congresswoman Louise Slaughter

Summary:The lesson explores the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), called the first civil rights legislation of the 21st century by former Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy.Learning about the history of genetic discrimination in the workplace, along with the progress being made to ensure workers do not have information about their DNA used inappropriately, is key to seeing the potential of personal genetics come to fruition.

Activities:Do now exercise (7 minutes), jigsaw (45 minutes).

Download lesson plan: Word documentorPDFTake a quiz: Avoiding genetic discriminationClick here to learn about recent developments.

**Updatedfor 2016**

Photo by Mark Engebretson, University of Minnesota

Summary:This lesson addresses the genetic reproductive technologies that are being used by individuals who, for a variety of reasons, wish to know and/or have some choice about the genetic makeup of their children. It begins with a discussion of the technologies that can reveal the genetic makeup of fetuses and then moves on to a technology called preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). The goal of this lesson is to give students an opportunity to discuss many aspects of PGD such that they become aware of the diversity of opinions surrounding PGD.

Activities:Do now exercise (5-7 minutes), slideshow (15-20 minutes), scenarios (20-45 minutes), fishbowl discussion (20-30 minutes).

Download lesson plan: Word documentorPDFDownload slideshow: PowerPoint slidesTake a quiz: Non-invasive prenatal testingClick here to learn about recent developments.

**Newfor 2017**

Photo by National Academy of Sciences

Summary:Recently developed techniques to easily modify DNA, known as genome editing, are bringing many new possibilities as well as dilemmas to the forefront of medicine, ethics, religion and society at large. One technique in particular, known as CRISPR, has generated the most excitement due to its efficiency and ease of use. This lesson introduces students to the basic scientific concepts of genome editing, its potential for improving human health, as well as some of the ethical discussions surrounding the development and applications of the technique.

Activities:Do now exercise (5-7 minutes), slideshow (30-40 minutes), scenarios(25-35 minutes).

Download lesson plan: Word documentor PDFDownload slideshow: PowerPoint slidesTake a quiz: Genome editing and CRISPRClick here to learn about recent developments.

**Updatedfor 2016**

Summary:Genetic testing is increasingly playing a role in sports. As the genetic basis for many health conditions is revealed, some doctors, coaches, and academic and athletic organizations are wondering whether genetic analysis can provide health and safety benefits for athletes. Can genetics help minimize the risk of injury? In addition, as scientists uncover numerous genes linked to athletic performance, questions have emerged about whether genetics might play a role in guiding young people toward the sport in which they are likely to have the most success. In this lesson, students are asked to consider how their own genetic information might influence their athletic path.

Activities:Do now exercise (7 minutes), pair-share exercise (10 minutes), slideshow (20-30 minutes), scenarios (30-35 minutes).

Download lesson plan: Word documentorPDFDownload slideshow: PowerPoint slidesDownload science supplement: Word documentorPDFClick here to learn about recent developments.

**Updatedfor 2016**

Summary:As the genetic basis for many health conditions is revealed, some doctors, coaches, and academic and athletic organizations are wondering whether genetic analysis can provide health and safety benefits for athletes. As of 2013, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the governing body of college sports in the United States, began screening all of its athletes for the genetic condition sickle cell trait (SCT). This lesson explores the discussion surrounding this policy and asks students to examine how genetics might impact their own athletic choices and options.

Activities:Reading and notes (15 minutes), proposal (30-50 minutes), presentations and group discussion (15-20 minutes).

Download lesson plan: Word documentorPDFTake a quiz: Sickle cell traitClick here to learn about recent developments.

**Updatedfor 2016**

Summary:The collection and analysis of DNA is an important tool in law enforcement. This lesson explores the challenge of establishing ethical and legal frameworks in a timely manner to guide the use of newly developed technologies. A key question that is woven through this lesson is how we as a society can use genetics to keep people safe, solve crimes and, at the same time, develop policies that provide appropriate safeguards and privacy protections.

Activities:Do now exercise (5-7 minutes), slideshow (20 minutes), video clip (15 minutes), discussion (10 minutes).

Download lesson plan: Word documentorPDFDownload slideshow: PowerPoint slidesClick here to learn about recent developments.

Complementary lesson: Check out the lesson Short Tandem RepeatsAnd Murder! which explores the science behindforensic DNA analysis (from our colleagues at The American Society of Human Genetics).

**Updatedfor 2016**

Summary:This lesson provides students with a historical overview of the American eugenics movement and highlights some of the advances and breakthroughs that have been achieved through genetic and genomic research. Many people fear that new advances in genetics, particularly embryo screening and analysis of fetal DNA, could lead to a new era of eugenics. The goal of this lesson is for students to start discussing these topics so that they can understand the complexity of the issues and engage in conversations that contrast the dangers of eugenics with the benefits that can come from genetic information.

Activities:Slideshow (40 minutes), discussion (15-20 minutes).

Download lesson plan: Word documentorPDFDownload slideshow: PowerPoint slides

**Updatedfor 2016**

Vermont Eugenics: A Documentary History

Summary:This lesson uses primary source documents to explore issues of race, gender and class in the 20th century. It is intended to extend the ideas explored in History, eugenics and genetics. The goal of this lesson is for students to use original sources to understand how the eugenics movement used propaganda to enter mainstream America to promote its agenda, and use critical thinking skills to analyze and interpret the sources.

Activities:Document analysis and worksheet (20-30 minutes), discussion (20-30 minutes).

Download lesson plan: Word documentorPDFDownload slideshow: PowerPoint slides

Summary:Questions about whether genetics can, in part, explain violent, aggressive behavior in humans are not new. Recent episodes of large-scale violence, whether in schools or other public places, have renewed discussion about the intersection of crime, mental health and genetics. In this lesson, students are asked to examine popular but incorrect ideas related to the idea that a single gene or even set of genes can cause humans to behave aggressively.

Activities:Video clip (15 minutes), class discussion (20 minutes).

Download lesson plan: Word documentorPDFDownload slideshow: PowerPoint slidesClick here to learn about recent developments.

Summary:This lesson introduces students to scientific concepts in genetics that have broad implications for individuals and for society. Students will be asked to consider the role of DNA in our personal and cultural identities as well as our understanding of diversity. They will come away with a perspective that the benefits of personal genetics can only come to light when we understand the potential and the concerns.

Activities:Slideshow (30-40 minutes).

Download lesson plan: Word documentorPDFDownload slideshow: PowerPoint slidesClick here to learn about recent developments.

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Lesson Plans pgEd

This entry was posted on June 30, 2018 at 1:43 am and is filed under Legal Issues Genetic Medicine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |