COURSE:
PROJECT:
BIOL1408. Introductory Biology
Scenario-based cancer investigation
SCENARIO: Students are a genetic counselor who have a patient (Lucinda) recently diagnosed with cancer
FINAL REPORT: Recommendations to doctors for Lucinda
’s cancer testing and treatment, and family member cancer prevention strategies.
Objectives (from the ACC Common Course Objectives):
1. Core topic: The Nature of Science a. What types of questions can science answer? b. Evaluating science reports in the media. c. Science as a language d. Making informed decisions e. Scientific responsibility
2. Core topic: Cells a. Basic cell components b. Types of cells c. Cell communication d. Signal transduction
3. Core topic: Protein Synthesis a. The structure of DNA b. Transcription, writing the protein code in RNA c. Translation, ribosomes link amino acids d. Ethical, legal, and social issues e. Privacy issues and genetic discrimination f. Medical and commercial applications g. Gene sequencing to choose effective drug treatments h. Human genetic defects and the specific missing or defective proteins
4. Core topic: Mutations a. What causes mutations b. The effects of mutations c. Somatic vs germ-line mutations d. Cancer and “cancer genes” e. Types of mutations f. Harmful, neutral, and beneficial mutations g. Incidence of specific mutations
5. Core topic: The Cell Cycle a. DNA replication b. Cancer treatments and how they work
6. Core topic: Patterns of Inheritance a. Mendelian genetics b. Molecular gentetics c. Genetic counseling d. The mathematics of probability e. Making pedigrees f. Hereditary diseases and genetic screening
7. Core topic: Biotechnology a. DNA sequencing b. Biotechnology research tools c. How genetic testing is done

Project components:
The product of each step of this project (and type of work, means of grading) are listed below.
1. Reflect on personal experiences with cancer and the importance of carcinogens in an essay.
(individually-written short essay, done as an in-class essay)
2. What are career paths , opportunities, and responsibilities of a genetic counselor? (a team-written short essay, done homework)
3. Set up a GoogleDrive site for sharing work within the team and with the instructor. Upload the
Final Report grading rubric. (a teamwork project, done as an in-class activity)
4. Give some models of genetic counseling reports : students grade examples of final submission of this project, according to the Final Report grading rubric. (done as teamwork, in-class, with peer sharing)
5.
Draw and analyze Lucinda’s family pedigree to analyze and look for an inherited component of her cancer. Develop recommendations for testing of client and family, justifications (400 word essay, done as teamwork, both in-class and as homework)
6. Investigate Lucinda’s environment for carcinogens and make recommendations for cancer prevention.
Each team selects and investigates a specific environmental source.
Recommendations to family for prevention (800 word essay). (done as teamwork, in-class and as homework)
7. Gene testing for Lucinda : Each team selects a specific cancer gene to study (each team has a different “Lucinda”. (done as teamwork, both in-class and as homework) a. Describe the g ene’s normal function in the cell. (long paragraph) b. Describe the g ene’s malfunction in a cancer cell, prognosis, treatment. (2 long paragraphs)
8. Team peer evaluation . (done individually by filling out a form)
9. Final report for Lucinda : similar to Lucinda’s report, but including the family pedigree, recommendations on how to avoid specific sources of environmental sources of carcinogens and recommendations on gene testing in Lucinda’s family for cancer prevention. (includes a summary of all recommendations, FAQs, Keywords, and References)
(done in-class as teamwork and as homework)
10. Presentation for Lucinda’s medical healthcare providers
of
Lucinda’s case during “rounds” to medical personnel in a 15 minute presentation. Dress the part! (teamwork, prepared in-class and as homework) a.
Gene’s protein structure. (3D illustration and analytical component) b. Position/function of amino acid substitution in mutant protein. (3D illustration and analytical component)
11. Team peer evaluation . (done individually by filling out a form)
12. Update personal reflection on cancer and carcinogens. (individually-written short essay, done as an in-class essay)
13. Project debrief (individually)

Table 1. Find a balance in the formats and strategies to be included.
Formal Informal Problem
-based
Topicbased
Assigned topic
Individual choice of topic
Thesisdriven closedform
Personal reflection on cancer
Genetic counselor careers
Evaluate model genetic counseling reports
Pedigree analysis
Prevention report
Gene Testing
Report
Peer team evaluation
Final report for patient
Presentation, doctor handout
Team peer evaluation
Update personal reflection on cancer and carcinogens
Project debrief
Open form
Inclass
Home work

Table 2. Grading strategies
Peer-
Personal reflection on cancer and carcinogens revised or evaluated
Genetic counselor careers
Evaluate model genetic counseling reports
Pedigree analysis
Prevention report
Gene testing report
Team peer evaluation
Final report doctor handout
Presentation
Team peer evaluation
Update personal reflection on cancer and carcinogens
Project debrief
Teacher revised
Completion or mastery grade
Edited for grammar at
Learning Lab
Due date
First day
(in class)
Second day
Second day
(in class)
Second day
Fourth day
Fifth day
Fifth day
Seventh day
Eighth day
Eighth day
Ninth day
(in class)
Ninth day
Final grade
Third day
Fourth day
Second day
(in class)
Third day
Sixth day
Seventh day
Fifth day
Ninth day
Eighth day
Eighth day
Ninth day
(in class)
Ninth day

Table 1. Find a balance in the formats and strategies to be included. (template)
Formal Informal Problem
-based
Topicbased
Assigned topic
Individual choice of topic
Thesisdriven closedform
Open form
Inclass
Home work

Table 2. Grading strategies
Peerrevised or evaluated
Teacher revised
Completion or mastery grade
Edited for grammar at
Learning Lab
Due date Final grade