………o0O0o……….

Let’s start with a tour of the basics from Learn.Genetics at Utah.

DNA coiling on histone proteins from biostudio.com

A description of chromosomes from Dexter Pratt

Zooming in to Chromosome 11 (a bit too advanced) from the DNA Learning Centre’s Gene Almanac

Transcription Java game from thinkquest.org

………o0O0o……….

Mutations:

How do mutations occur? from the DNAi at the Dolan DNA Learning Centre

Evolution of Sickle Cell: Resistance to Malaria

Sickle Cell Anemia: A Mutation Story from the excellent Evolution Library.

……….o0O0o………

30-Minute Inquiry: Base-substitution mutations

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

Answer: They are all disorders causes by base-substitution mutations.

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).

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.

Poster outline for the 30-minute inquiry.

……….o0O0o………

Epigenetics: A new frontier in heredity