Genetic Testing - Compass Points

Health Education Standard 1 – “Students will comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention to enhance health.”

1.12.4. Analyze how genetics and family history can impact personal health. 

Learning Goal:

Students will analyze how genetics and family history can impact personal health. 

Activity Purpose:

The purpose of this activity is to target higher levels of thinking by considering multiple angles of genetic testing.  Specific areas of health should include mental, emotional, and physical implications of being tested.  

Intro: 

1. With emerging genetic testing companies such as “23 and Me” and “Ancestry”, it is becoming more popular and accessible for families to test their own genes. 
2. If in a classroom setting, group students in 3-4 per group and have one person record at their table. 
3. Students will be prompted to read the following article (provided by “WebMD”). *Note: The article could be assigned prior to class as a required reading.  While reading the article, analyze, discuss, and record your (and your group members’) thoughts toward the following questions:

(E)  - Excitement 

What excites you about this article over genetic testing? What's the upside?

(W)  - Worries

What do you find worrisome about this this article over genetic testing? What's the downside?

(N)   - Needs

What else do you need to know or find out more about to make an educated decision regarding genetic testing? Is there a specific area that you are more interested in testing? 

(S)   - Stance, Steps or Suggestions

What is your current stance or opinion on genetic testing? 

What would make you more comfortable to make a responsible decision in the future whether to test or not test?

What suggestions do you have at this point?

*After 10-15 minutes of discussion, have students record their thoughts either in an online forum or on the board under each category.  

**If performed online, have specific students respond to a specific question (example: Group 1 = E- Excitements), followed by another group responding to the additional point.

Additional Resources to Facilitate Discussion:

1) "How Genetic Testing Helped Save a Woman's Life" (Video - Dr. Oz)

2) "How to Protect Yourself Before Taking a Home DNA Test" (Video - Dr. Oz)

Instructor - Additional Guiding Questions:

• Would you want to know if you are more susceptible to a genetic disease?
• Would this have any impact on the following areas of you health(?) - Emotional health, Mental health, Physical health
• How would this change your or your family member’s behavior in the future?

Assessment

1. Short answer - Would you want to know if you are susceptible to developing a specific genetic disease? Why or why not?
2. Short answer - Would knowing or not knowing have an impact on your or your family’s health (physical, mental, emotional, etc.)?  Explain what kind of an impact this would have using one or all areas of health mentioned throughout the activity.  

Extension: 

This could be adapted to look at research findings from 

Extension Activity - Specific Scenarios

The following activity entitled “Genome Generation”  (accessed at “Your Genome”) provides scenarios based on many common discussions.  Specific scenarios include: insurance, breast cancer, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's, baby, etc.

This could be developed to target specific discussions regarding ethics and effect on areas of health (physical, mental, emotional, etc.). 

Activity Created by Genome Research Limited