November 24th, 2015

Agenda:

• Start Activity 3.1.2: Diagnostic Imaging

• BBC Two Horizons:  Defeating Cancer

Links/Resources:

• Presentation on Diagnostic Imaging

Draft of a concept map:

November 22nd 2015

Agenda:

• Activity 3.1.1: Who is Affected by Cancer

• BBC Two Horizons:  Defeating cancer

• Using Algae to defeat cancer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEHdZzc6wsI

Links/Resources:

• Case File On Mike Rivera: Please read this file 

• Mike Rivera's Cancer Cells: Origin Video

• Tapeworm Cancer:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/tape-worm-cancer

• Barefoot Surgery: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKr4tMXJEhE

November 16th, 2014

Activity 2.2.3: Genetic Therapy

Procedure

Part I: A Glimpse into the Future

View the clip of human cloning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfqwUlnsGvY

 Part II: Sex Selection

Mr. and Mrs. King have three healthy boys. Although Mrs. King loves her sons, she is tired of being the only female in the house. She and her husband have decided they want to have another child, but this time, they are looking to science to help them conceive a girl.

Use the Internet to research medical interventions that can help Mrs. King fulfill her dream of having a daughter. Investigate the new CRISPR that provide parents the opportunity to choose the gender of their children.

CRISPR Human Genetic Engineering:

http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2014/crispr-a-game-changing-genetic-engineering-technique/

http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/genetically-engineered-human-embryo-crispr/

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/next/evolution/crispr-gene-drives/

IVF: 

http://www.sumanasinc.com/webcontent/animations/content/invitrofertilization.html

Part III: Designer Babies

Maya and Armond Harris have been trying for years to get pregnant. Their last two attempts at in vitro fertilization (IVF) have been unsuccessful. The doctor suggests using preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) to analyze chromosomes and pinpoint the embryos that have a greater chance of surviving. Maya and Armond are hesitant to select particular embryos – they feel as if this is putting them one step closer to designing their child.

Time article Designer Babies available: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,17696,00.html

 (Links to an external site.)

Part IV: Reproductive Cloning

Marion Waters is desperate to have a child of her own. Despite multiple fertility treatments, she has never been able to conceive. She is a single woman and feels her opportunity to have a child is quickly coming to a close. She sees a report on cloning on the news and begins to wonder if this technology will ever be available to help women in her situation.

View the ArgosBiotech’s website, Cloning: A Timeline, found at  http://www.argosbiotech.de/700/timelines/cloning.htm

 (Links to an external site.)

Explore the science behind reproductive cloning by reading the following articles.Learn.Genetics – What is Cloning:  http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/cloning/whatiscloning/

 (Links to an external site.National Human Genome Research Institute – Cloning Fact Sheet: http://www.genome.gov/25020028 (Links to an external site.)  

Agenda: Nov 17th/18th

Finish Activity 2.1.3: Test your own genes

Start Activity 2.2.1: Gene Therapy

Using Viruses to cure cancer:
http://www.abc2news.com/newsy/were-slowly-recruiting-viruses-to-treat-cancer

Using Polio to cure cancer:
http://www.nbcnews.com/watch/nbc-news-channel/doctors-cure-womens-cancer-with-polio-injection-242736707676

Can we live forever: 
http://video.pbs.org/video/1754457671/

Procedure

Part I: Mechanics of Gene Therapy

1. Visit the Genetic Science Learning Center (GSLC) Gene Therapy site athttp://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/genetherapy/

 (Links to an external site.) and read the three sections listed below. Take notes in your laboratory journal.

• What is Gene Therapy?
• Choosing Targets for Gene Therapy
• Gene Delivery: The Key to Gene Therapy

3. Use your Student Response Sheet to complete the GSLC Space Doctor interactive found at http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/tech/genetherapy/spacedoctor/

 (Links to an external site.)

Part II: Debating Gene Therapy:  

Against the use of gene therapy.

• The New York Times – Patient Dies During a Trial of Therapy Using Geneshttp://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9E06EED8173EF93AA1575AC0A96F958260 (Links to an external site.)
• Fox News – Boy Living in Bubble Develops Leukemia From Experimental Therapyhttp://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,317225,00.html (Links to an external site.)
• BBC News Magazine – Gene Doping: Sport’s Biggest Battle?http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-25687002 (Links to an external site.)  
• The New York Times – 2nd Cancer is Attributed to Gene Used in FDA Testhttp://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9801E7DB1F31F934A25752C0A9659C8B63 (Links to an external site.)
• ABC News – Patient Death Latest Setback for Gene Therapyhttp://abcnews.go.com/Health/Story?id=3421869&page=1 (Links to an external site.)
• The New York Times – Trials are Halted on a Gene Therapyhttp://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C01E7D9163BF937A35753C1A9649C8B63 (Links to an external site.)

In favor of gene therapy: 

• Biology News Net – Gene Therapy Shows Promise as Weapon Against HIVhttp://www.biologynews.net/archives/2009/02/23/gene_therapy_shows_promise_as_weapon_against_hiv.html (Links to an external site.)
• New Scientist - Gene Therapy Cures “Bubble Boy”http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn2124-gene-therapy-cures-bubble-boy.html (Links to an external site.)
• The New York Times – More Than Humanhttp://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/03/books/chapters/0703-1st-naam.html (Links to an external site.)
• New Scientist – Gene Therapy is First Deafness ‘Cure’http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn7003 (Links to an external site.)
• Stanford University Medical Center – Gene Therapy for Muscular Dystrophy Fixes Frail Muscle Cells in Animal Model http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-12/sumc-gtf122205.php (Links to an external site.)
• USA Today – Gene Therapy Experiments Improve Vision in Nearly Blindhttp://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2008-04-28-3714044875_x.htm (Links to an external site.)