Course Syllabus
Biotechnology and Personal Genetics Syllabus
School Year 2023-23
(subject to change- especially due to class interests)
Introduction
- Introduction to the topics of personal genetics and biotechnology
- A prion love story
- Refresher on genes, proteins and genetics
- Introduction to Biotechnology
- Project: What are the current Biotechnology techniques?
- Lab: DNA Extraction, COVID19 qPCR Lab, Rainbow electrophoresis
Unit 1: Introduction to Personal Genetics
- Genetics and Reproduction: fetal DNA testing
- Genetics, jobs and your rights
- Projects: What genetic disease are you interested in, or plagues your family? What jobs are available in the field of genetics/biotech?
- Lab: Bitter Taste Lab- PCR, Nature’s Dice- using gel electrophoresis to determine inheritance of a family disease
- Videos: NOVA, Cracking Your Code, The Gene Doctors, and GATTACA
- Guest speaker: Genetic counselor
Unit 2: Human Intervention
- CRISPR, human germline editing
- History and eugenics
- Microbiology/Recombinant DNA technology
- GMOs
- Project: Primary source analysis
- Lab: CRISPR Knockout, GMO investigation, pGlo transformation
- Videos: Human Nature (NOVA), UnNatural Selection (Netflix)
- Guest speaker: TBD
Unit 4: DNA, Crime and Law Enforcement
- Forensics
- Molecular evidence of crimes
- Project: Types of evidence and reliability (PCAST report), unsolved crimes
- Labs: Forensic DNA fingerprinting lab, using gel electrophoresis
- Videos: Can Science Stop Crime (NOVA)
- Guest speaker: Detectives from Wellesley PD
Unit 5: Human Behavior
- Sleep and human behavior
- Athletics and genetics
- Aggression in humans
- Your health and the microbiome
- Lab: Are you a night owl or morning lark? PCR Lab
Unit 6: Personalized Medicine/ Introduction to clinical trials and drug discovery
- Personalized approach to medicine and treating disease
- Research ethics
- Clinical trials
- Advertisement of clinical trials and pharmaceuticals
- Current advancements in therapeutics
- Video: Ms. Evers’ Boys (HBO Film)
Unit 6: Genetics of Cancer
- What is cancer? Who gets it and why?
- Henrietta Lacks
- Project: Research cancer, HeLa timeline
- Video: clips from PBS Emperor of All Maladies, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (HBO Docuseries)
- Lab: Detecting Inherited Forms of Cancer (gel electrophoresis)
- Guest speaker: TBD
Course Summary:
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