Epigenetics – beyond genes
Activities
National Human Genome Research Institute (USA)
The Human Genome Project: Exploring our molecular selves – a multimedia education kit. You can download component parts separately (eg, 'How to sequence a genome', 'Ethical, legal and social implications'). (Requires QuickTime)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (USA)
Your genes, your choices – presents seven case studies about genetic information.
National Human Genome Research Institute (USA)
The ethical, legal and social implications of genetic knowledge – using a number of vignettes, students learn about using logical guidelines to evaluate information and arguments used in decision-making about genetic information.
Genetic timeline – students construct a timeline that allows them to see how technology, and specifically biotechnology, affects the progress of scientific discoveries.
DNA Interactive, Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory, USA
DNAi teacher guide – provides activities about DNA structure, model organisms, genome mining, human origins and dealing with controversy.
Public Broadcasting Service, USA
Explore a stretch of code – students locate specific base sequences in a gene to learn about their function.
Camp-in curriculum: Genetics – provides activities about heredity, observing differences and similarities in a population and how inheritance works.
Genetic research: Decisions to be made – students learn about current genetic research and its ethical implications.
The Human Genome Project: Talk show time – suggests different points of view that students could present during a role play activity.
Nobel.org, Sweden
Control of the cell cycle – students take on the job of cell division supervisor.
The genetic code – students learn about the DNA code by playing the ‘Crack the code’ game.
Science NetLinks, American Association for the Advancement of Science
Mitosis – students make physical representations of the chromosomes in the stages of cell division.
Posted September 2006.