Sometimes It Is All in the Genes

By Anne Galbraith, David R. Howard

Abstract

Nancy, five months pregnant, agrees to a routine genetic test that indicates she carries the mutation for the fatal disease, cystic fibrosis. She convinces her husband to get tested and discovers that he too is a carrier. Knowing that there is a 25 percent chance their unborn child may have the disease, they must decide what to do. This case introduces students to the scientific and ethical issues surrounding genetic testing for a disease that has no known cure. The case was developed for a health and wellness general education course that is entirely case based.

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Date Posted

09/24/2002

Overview

Objectives

Explain and use relevant terminology: dominant, recessive, carrier, gene, mutation, disorder, allele.
Calculate the probabilities of inheriting recessive traits and passing them on to offspring.
Discuss the symptoms of and treatments for cystic fibrosis.
Describe amniocentesis as a technique for in utero testing and discuss the ethics of having it done.
Discuss the purpose of in utero testing for genetic disorders for which there is no current cure.
Discuss clinical trials, gene therapy techniques, and the ethics of “playing God.”

Keywords

Cystic fibrosis; CFTR; gene frequency; genetic disorder; recessive; carrier; mutation; allele; genetic testing; amniocentesis; gene therapy

Subject Headings

Biology (General)

Genetics / Heredity

Medicine (General)

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

Undergraduate lower division, Undergraduate upper division, General public & informal education

FORMAT

PDF

TOPICAL AREAS

Ethics

LANGUAGE

English

TYPE/METHODS

Interrupted

Teaching Notes & Answer Key

Teaching Notes

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Answer Key

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