Genetics - Genetic Screening In The Workplace: Case Study

Genetic Screening In The Workplace: Case Study

Teacher: Domenica Jean Altieri: Ft. Myers, FL
Subject: Biological Science
Grade Level(s): 9 10 11 12
Target Audience: Biology I
Materials Needed: handouts
Class Time: 75-90 minutes
Brief Summary: Students participate in a small group discussion/role play of a specific case study concerning the use of genetic screening in the workplace.
Student Objective(s): Determine stakeholders for the bioethical issue of genetic screening. Participate in a discussion that reveals the complexity of the genetic screening issue.
Description of Activities: Introduce the activity by discussing genetic screening and some of the potential uses of this technology. Then present the scenario to the students. The CEO of a hazardous chemical manufacturer has learned about a gene for alcoholism and one for Huntington's disease and wants the company to come up with a policy for genetic screening of potential employees. Guide the students to come up with the stakeholders in this issue. Then divide the class into groups of 5-6 students. Each individual in the group writes down their position as one of the stakeholders. Then the group comes to a consensus on the genetic screening policy for the company. Each group presents their policy to the class.
Integration (tying it all together): This activity should be done after students have an understanding of dominant and recessive genes and variations in expressivity of a gene. The same format can be used to discuss other bioethical issues.
Further Information and References: Bioethics, Woodrow Wilson Foundation Biology Institute, 1992 Curriculum Module, Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, 1992. Jennings, B., et al., New Choices, New Responsibilities: Ethical Issues in the Life Sciences, The Hastings Center, 1990.

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