Biology In ActionGenetic Defects WebQuest

10th grade

Written by Joe Cicero
Introduction | Task |  Process | Learning Advice | Resources | Evaluation | Conclusion


Introduction
Imagine you have been married for 2 years. You and your spouse have decided to have children.
During your third month of pregnancy your child is diagnosed with a genetic disorder.
What will you do?

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Task
Your quest is to research a genetic disorder, consider different options for the baby.
  1. Would not have children. May resort to other alternatives for children (sperm banks, surrogate parents, adoption).
  2. Try to have a child and during the third trimester abort the child if it has been determined to hade the disorder.
  3. Have a child and it would not matter if it had the disorder.

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Process
Visit the links in the Resources section of this Web Quest.
  1. Place your hand in a hat and select a genetic disorder.
  2. Gather information about your genetic disorder including:
    1. Name
    2. Who discovered it
    3. How it is inherited
      1. Autosomal dominant
      2. Autosomal recessive
      3. Sex limited trait
      4. Chromosomal error
      • Missing chromosome
      • Extra chromosome
      • Damaged chromosome
    4. Clinical description of the disorder
      1. How does it affect its victim?
      2. Is it life threatening?
      3. Does it result in internal, external, biochemical, or physiological or psychological problems?
    5. Is it commonly foud in certian groups (ethnic,race or sex)?
    6. Treatment
      1. How is the disorder treated medically?
      2. Is there a cure?
      3. Can the carrier of the disorder be indentified through genetic screening?

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Learning Advice
Don't hurry when researching your genetic disorder project.
Use a reasearch journal to write summaries of all your sources.
You may also printout the data and read it later.
Feel free to use the INSERT method when reading the material.

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Resources
Use these sites to research your genetic disorder:
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Evaluation
This rubric will be used to grade your project.
Use the following criteria as you write your paper, create your posters and prepare for your presentation. Your grade is in your hands.
8-10 Points 5-7 Points 2-4 Points 0-1 Points
Paper 5+ pages
Formal research paper
12+ sources for biblography
Paper includes:
a-name of the disorder
b-who discovered it
c- mode of inheritance
d-clinical description
e- if found in certian groups
f- treatment
g- putnett square
h- what would you do dilema		 4-5 pages
Formal research paper
8-12 sources for bibliography at least 5 of the information asked for:
a-name of the disorder
b-who discovered it
c- mode of inheritance
d-clinical description
e- if found in certian groups
f- treatment
g- putnett square
h- what would you do dilema 		2+ -3 pages
Formal research paper
5 or less sources for biblography at least 3 of the information asked for:
a-name of the disorder
b-who discovered it
c- mode of inheritance
d-clinical description
e- if found in certian groups
f- treatment
g- putnett square
h- what would you do dilema 		less than 2 pages description of your disorder.
Journal 3 journal entries a week checked every Mon. & Fri.
includes number of entries
a- date of entry
b- bibliography of entry
c-summary of entry
d- all on time
e- thorough summaries
*all entries on time
*correct number of sources		 less than 3 entries a week
1 to 2 missing journal checks
incomplete entries
1 to 2 late journal checks
3 to 5 sources missing		 3+ missing journal checks
more than 3 checks with less than 3 entries a week
incomplete entries
less than half of the sources needed
50% or more entries late		 6 or less sources
many missing journal checks
incomplete or missing entries
50% to 75% entries late
Presentation Professional presentation (prepared)
use of note cards
use of poster (complete)
a superior demonstration that covers all the material		 Interesting presentation
a good presentation that covers most of material		 A presentation of your topic (yawn)
no poster		 Get up and talk about your topic (little or no preperation)

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Conclusion
Discuss the possibilities if through genetic engineering your disorder could be corrected.
  • Is it worth the massive amounts of money to help a small percent of the population?
  • Is it ethical to change someone's genes?
Last updated February 1, 2005