Genetics - Genetic Research: A Congressional Hearing

Genetic Research: A Congressional Hearing

Teacher: Donald E. Chamberlain: Decatur, IL
Subject: Biology or Anatomy Classes
Grade Level(s): 10 11 12
Target Audience: Biology I & II, AP Biology, Genetics, Life Science
Materials Needed: Materials to produce AVA materials
Class Time: 7 days
Brief Summary: Students participate in a mock hearing of the U.S. Senate subcommittee on genetic research. Students representing support groups for various genetic disorders present arguments for continued federal funding, while subcommittee members are faced with budget cuts in genetic research. Who will receive continued funding? Who will face federal cuts? Much depends on the persuasiveness of their presentations.
Student Objective(s): Students will prepare, organize, and present information to the subcommittee about the origin, symptomology, and treatment of various genetic disorders (i.e., hemophilia, sickle-cell anemia, etc.). Students will develop and prepare persuasive audiovisual aids to enhance their oral presentations. Students will analyze and compare the effects of many genetic conditions.
Description of Activities: Each student will be assigned to a genetic disease support group or to a membership on the Senate Subcommittee on Genetic Research. Each group will organize themselves to prepare and deliver an optimal presentation about their genetic disorder to the subcommittee. Group, as well as individual grades, will be based on the effectiveness of the presentation to the subcommittee; subcommittee members will be evaluated on their participation during the hearing. Students are also expected to prepare written reports of their presentations as well as the oral presentations. At the end of the activity, a written exam on the genetic disorders discussed in the hearing will be given to all students.
Integration (tying it all together): The activity offers students opportunity to improve both written and verbal communication skills while demonstrating the breadth of their knowledge about human genetics and the devastating nature of genetic disorders in real-life situations. The activity also offers opportunity for cooperative activity where students improve their social skills. Students will also become aware of the existence of these support organizations in our community (since they may have to contact as resources).
Further Information and References: This activity is an adaptation of a presentation offered at the 1995 NABT National Convention in St. Louis, Linda S. Davis, Hoffman Estates High School.

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