This has worked well (and been fun) as a topic review, way to make use of databases (ICT in IBBio requirement) and make connections as we.

Question: What do HBB, PAH, PKD1, NF1, CFTR, Opn1Mw and HEXA have in common?

Concepts: Structure vs Function; Universality & Diversity.

The set-up:

1. Assign groups by handing out cards with the codes above (we had already studied HBB, so didn’t include it) and asking them to find each other.
2. Give them the instructions – to produce a simple poster & 1-minute overview of their disorder, using the guidance in the image below.
3. Go.  Lots of discussion, lots of questioning. If students get stuck, they need to look it up, evaluate their sources and keep on going.
4. Students will need to use the NCBI gene database to get going: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene

Check they’re on the right track: HBB (sickle cell), PAH (PKU), PKD1 (polycystic kidney disease), NF1 (neurofibromatosis), CFTR (cystic fibrosis), Opn1Mw (medium-wave sensitive colour-blindness), HEXA (Tay-Sachs disease). They are all disorders causes by base-substitution mutations.

After 30 minutes:

1. Groups present to the class what they have found.
2. As the class sharing continues, ask questions based on connections:
   1. What similarities and differences do we see?
   2. What are the normal functions of these genes and how does this connect to our understanding of proteins, channels, pumps, etc.