Colon Cancer

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Grade 10, 11,

30-60 mins

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

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