Help Barbara, 53, understand how a genetic test for hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) can explain her families’ history and help plan for the future.
Variation in one gene increases the risk that individuals will develop colorectal or endometrial cancers later in life. Students take on the role of medical geneticists tasked with interpreting and explaining Barbara’s families’ genetic data. Using their understanding of gene dominance relationships, patterns of inheritance and family pedigrees, students assess the risk that members of Barbara’s family will develop cancer, thinking carefully about how they would communicate this assessment to a patient.
Curricular Competency
- Processing and analyzing data information
Curricular Content
- Simple patterns of inheritance
- Applications of genetics and ethical considerations
- Effects of DNA mutations
Case Studies