Skip to main content
 

Pharmacogenetics

Using Genetics to Treat Disease

By Jeanne Ting Chowning

Pharmacogenetics


 

Abstract

This case study investigates the applications of genetics to medicine by exploring one of the first examples of a pharmacogenetic test to enter mainstream clinical practice. Pharmacogenetics examines how genetic variations in an individual correlate with responses to a specific medication in order to develop tailored medical treatments. Through a scenario based on clinical observations, students learn about acute lymphocytic leukemia as well as the wide range of individual responses to the drug used to treat it. Then, students interpret data similar to those initially published in scientific journals in order to construct an understanding of how genetic variation can be used to “tailor” medical care. Lastly, students are asked to apply their understanding of what they have learned in the case by making the appropriate medical recommendation based on a particular individual’s genotype.

   

Date Posted

02/04/2010

Overview

Objectives

  • Use scientific/case study data and interpret graphs in order to draw conclusions.
  • Understand how individual genetic variation can impact medical practice and clinical outcomes, using the example of leukemia and thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT).
  • Predict how polymorphisms in the gene for TPMT indicate courses of medical care for particular individuals.

Keywords

Pharmacogenetics; personalized medicine; acute lymphocytic leukemia; thiopurine drugs; drug metabolism; thiopurine methyltransferase gene; TPMT

  

Subject Headings

Bioinformatics
Biology (General)
Biomedical Engineering
Biotechnology
Genetics / Heredity
Medicine (General)
Molecular Biology
Nursing
Pharmacy / Pharmacology

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

High school, Undergraduate lower division, Undergraduate upper division, Professional (degree program)

  

FORMAT

PDF

   

TOPICAL AREAS

Ethics, Legal issues, Social justice issues

   

LANGUAGE

English

   

TYPE/METHODS

Interrupted, Role-Play

 

 

Asset 2