Huntington's Disease Lesson Plans

In this lesson students research specific genetic disorders and create a pedigree of a fictitious local family in which Huntington's Disease is found. They predict inheritance and severity of HD and role play decision making process involving genetic testing.

Students read a story about a girl who grows up in a family affected by Huntington's Disease. They discuss terms and answer questions about issues related to genetic testing for Huntington's Disease.

Students explore Huntington's Disease. In this biology lesson, students read My Friend Linda and examine the ethical issues brought to light in the story. Students discuss biotechnology issues and genetic testing.

Students investigate how Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium is established and what assumptions and conditions are necessary to reach Equilibrium. They model alleles using materials such as index cards, M & M's and goldfish.

Learners research a particular genetic disorder and then create pamphlets about the disorder from a genetic counselor's point of view.

In this lesson students analyze current and emerging techniques used to select specific characteristics in offspring. They examine specific case studies and make ethical decisions based upon the Ethical Decision-Making Model.

In this lesson learners are divided into pairs, usually one male and one female. A student may work by him/herself or work with a friend. They are told that they are expecting a child. Unfortunately, their child may or may not have inherited some form of genetic disorder. Case history of their play family is given to each group and their jobs are to solve the problems.

Students explore the causes and effects of genetic disorders. They examine the phenotype and genotype of individuals and predict the recurrenence risks. Students generate a Punnett square and construct pedigree charts.

This lesson has students are introduced to genetics along with genetic diseases and heredity. In groups, they complete a Punnett Square to determine the dominant and recessive genes. After viewing diagrams, they identify the characteristics of DNA and demonstrate the processes of Meiosis and Mitosis. To end the lesson, they discover the factors that cause genes to mutate.

In this lesson students review and discuss sickle cell anemia. They investigate other genetic disorders and create a poster presentation to teach about a disorder. In addition, they present their posters to the class.