Genetics & Biotechnology Poster Symposium Project
Inquiry/Problem Solving Project Goals & Objectives:
•to investigate a genetics or biotechnology topic or issue
•to provide an appropriate and challenging learning experience for all students in a
heterogeneously mixed class
•to develop skills in scientific research and social applications, developing a research poster
(modeled after those of active researchers) that represents the student’s research, and
defending it in a mock poster symposium
•to focus students’ research process and resources on using current/active “experts” in a
selected field (primary sources)
•to turn responsibility for learning over to the student
•to encourage students to consider the social and ethical consequences associated with
current topics and issues in genetics or biotechnology
Project Options: See attached pages
Poster & Symposium Scoring Guides: See separate sheet
Due Dates & Products:
(Items in Bold will be graded items)
•March 5 & 6—Genetics/Biotechnology Poster Symposium Project Introduced:
Options & Topic Exploration
• March 12 & 13—Top 3 Topic w/ Option Choices DUE
•March 18--Source Check end of In-Class research session: 2 sources min.
in APA format w/ Introduction info. proof (see project sheet
• April 1-- Source Check end of In-Class research session: 2 New sources in APA
format w/poster sections information proof (should be a total of at least 4 sources by
now—remember that for a higher grade you ALSO need a living expert source too—
means 5 sources total)
•April 14 & 15— Typed Rough Draft of POSTER Introduction DUE w/1
parenthetical reference (see project sheet for required information)
•April 29— ROUGH DRAFT Poster layout w/References Consulted in APA
format on backside of layout (see project sheet for required sections)
•May 15--Final poster due. Late posters will reduce project grade.
•May 22 (3rd period May 23)—Symposium with Oral poster presentations—
Bring 2nd visual day this day. Three rotating poster sessions of about 15 minutes
each will be held. Each student presents his/her poster during one of these sessions.
Bonus Points given if you have an adult guest (18+ AND post-high school) attend
too.
Option 1
Genetic Disease & Disorders (human or non-human) Symposium
What is it?
A symposium is a meeting where participants give oral presentations on subjects revolving
around a common theme. Our mini-symposium is based on the theme of genetics & biotechnology.
You will select a topic and will research it, and prepare a poster and deliver a brief talk about your
poster to visitors during our in-class symposium.
Since you are expected to be an expert on the genetic disorder you choose, you must deliver
your talk WITHOUT reading it. You may use index cards to jot down notes. Only one side of each
card may be used. You must use your poster as one of 2 visual aids during your talk.
Genetic Disease/Disorder Choices
Consult any of the following sites for ideas:
1. http://medgen.genetics.utah.edu/photographs.htm
2. http://www.kumc.edu/gec/support/
3.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?call=bv.View..ShowTOC&rid=gnd.TOC
& depth=2
4. http://www.ygyh.org/
Genetic Diseases in non human animals:
1. http://www.vetgen.com/
2. http://research.vet.upenn.edu/Default.aspx?alias=research.vet.upenn.edu/penngen
What must be included in the presentation?
The presentation should follow the outline below. The questions listed are designed to give
you ideas on what to look for and to help you determine what is significant and what is not. They
are not to be answered individually as a question and answer session, and not every question will
pertain to every topic. You may find significant and interesting information that is not listed below.
I. Introduction - What is the name of the disorder? Are there and other names by which it is
commonly known? How prevalent is it? In which populations?
II. Mode of inheritance - All genetic disorders are inherited. There are several different ways in
which they can be inherited. Determine whether your disorder is an autosomal dominant trait, an
autosomal recessive trait, an X linked recessive trait, a chromosomal error, polygenic trait, or other
combination of transmission and environmental factors. Chromosomal errors may be of several
types: a particular missing chromosome (e.g., a missing X chromosome), an extra chromosome
(e.g., and extra chromosome 21), or a damaged chromosome (e.g., part of a chromosome deleted).
Which chromosomes and genes are involved? Provide a chromosome map of the gene(s) involved.
What are the loci of the gene(s) involved (where on the chromosome is the gene found)?
III. Clinical description of the disorder-What are the features of the disorder? How does it affect
the victim? What is it like to have the disorder? Is the disorder physically limiting? Is it life threatening? Is it invariably fatal? Is it found more commonly in certain groups of people, such as a
particular ethnic or religious groups?
IV. Detection & Treatment – Can the disorder be detected before the symptoms appear? If so,
how? Can it be detected prenatally? If so, how? Is there any way to detect a carrier of the disorder?
If so, how? Are newborns screened for it; if so how? If not, why and should it be? Can anything be
done for the disorder? Can the basic defect be treated? Can the symptoms or results of the disorder
be treated? Is there a cure for the disorder? What current research is being done in the way of gene
therapy or other treatment approaches? What does treatment cost? Who can afford it? Who funds
research?
How will this activity be graded?
1. Accuracy – How accurate was your presentation? Did you give any misinformation? Did you
appear to know the information well? Did you answer questions accurately? Did you make the
effort to ensure that all terms were pronounced correctly?
2. Following directions - Did you make your note cards and use them properly? Did you include all
the required information? You must use your own words on the Poster—summarize,
paraphrase, some DQs (direct quotes). If you “copy/paste” material, it will be considered
plagarism.
3. Delivery – Did you speak loudly and clearly? Were you too fast or too slow? Did you appear
confident and poised? Did you have proper eye contact with guests? Were you enthusiastic? Did
you avoid silliness?
4. Use of visual aids- Did you use your poster and other visual aid such as pictures, charts, objects,
demonstrations, etc. You’ll need a 2nd visual aid.
5. You must have at least 4-5 sources. Two of them must be from 2006 or later.
Websites to help you
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/disorders/whataregd/
http://www.nature.com/scitable/study-center
good for living experts
http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/posters/chromosome/
EXCELLENT with numerous links to other very useful sites:
http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/posters/chromosome/diseaseind
ex.shtml
scroll down for the “Locating Genetic Health Professionals”
One source of Chromosome Maps
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?rid=gnd.chapter.272
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=OMIM
Particulary
note the Disease InfoSearch link button
http://www.geneticalliance.org/
a Multimedia guide
http://www.ygyh.org/
Option 2
to genetic disorders:
Biotechnology Symposium
What is it?
A symposium is a meeting where participants give brief oral presentations on subjects
revolving around a common theme. Our mini-symposium is based on the theme of genetics &
biotechnology. You will select a topic and will research it, and prepare a poster and deliver a brief
talk about your poster to visitors during our in-class symposium.
Since you are expected to be an expert on the biotechnology topic you choose, you must
deliver your talk WITHOUT reading it. You may use index cards to jot down notes. Only one side
of each card may be used. You must use your poster as one of 2 visual aids during your talk.
Biotechnology Choices (not limited to the following, but check w/your teacher)
Cloning (meat, animals, humans), Effects of GMOs on future of food supply, Gene therapy
for genetic diseases, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) in produce and food products, Human
genetic engineering including designer genes, gene splicing; Transgenic crop breeding for
heat/drought/salinity tolerance, etc; pharmocogenetics (designer pharmacy drugs); DNA analysis as
evidence in criminal trials (murder, rape, paternity, poaching, etc); fetal diagnosis and selective
abortion; conservation of endangered or threatened species; Microarray technology & use;
Proteomics (protein ID, folding, & function); Cancer Genome Project (IDing genes in cancer);
Comparative Phylogentics; Bioinformatics; Nanobiotechnology (creating synthetic life
forms/genomes)
What must be included in the presentation?
The presentation should follow the outline below. The questions listed are designed to give
you ideas on what to look for and to help you determine what is significant and what is not. They
are not to be answered individually as a question and answer session, and not every question will
pertain to every topic. You may find significant and interesting information that is not listed below.
I. Introduction - What is the name of the biotechnology method? Are there any other names by
which it is commonly known? Provide a general description of what happens in this biotechnology
method. How prevalent is it? In which countries is it being researched/used? How long has this
biotechnology method been around?
II. Specific Information about the Biotechnology Method – What equipment is used with this
method? Describe how the equipment works and why it is important to the method. Describe the
specific processes used with this biotechnology method including the steps involved. What are
scientists trying to find out by using this method?
III. Social, Political, Economic, & Ethical Considerations – What are the positive consequences
of this biotechnology method? What are the negative consequences? What worries people about
this method? Who supports this method? Who opposes it? Why? How much does this method
cost? Who funds research and/or implementation of this method? Is the funding public, private, or
both? Who can afford this approach? How available with this method be for the average person?
IV. Predictions for the Future of this biotechnology method – Based on the current social,
political, and funding considerations, what do you predict will happen with this biotech method in
the future? Will it continue to be used or not? What evidence do you have to support your
comments? Based on the science involved, what new discoveries may occur due to this biotech
method?
How will this activity be graded?
1. Accuracy – How accurate was your presentation? Did you give any misinformation? Did you
appear to know the information well? Did you answer questions accurately? Did you make the
effort to ensure that all terms were pronounced correctly?
2. Following directions - Did you make your note cards and use them properly? Did you include all
the required information? You must use your own words on the Poster—summarize,
paraphrase, some DQs (direct quotes). If you “copy/paste” material, it will be considered
plagarism.
3. Delivery – Did you speak loudly and clearly? Were you too fast or too slow? Did you appear
confident and poised? Did you have proper eye contact with guests? Were you enthusiastic? Did
you avoid silliness?
4. Use of visual aids- Did you use your poster and other visual aid such as pictures, charts, objects,
demonstrations, etc. You’ll need a 2nd visual aid.
5. You must have at least 4-5 sources. Two of them must be from 2006 or later.
BIOTECH SITES TO HELP YOU
http://www.filebox.vt.edu/cals/cses/chagedor/biosites.html
http://www.fbae.org/
https://genographic.nationalgeographic.com/genographic/index.html
Genographic Project
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/ SEE the sections on
PERSONALIZED MEDICINE and GENETIC TECHNOLOGY
http://www.sanger.ac.uk/genetics/CGP/
CANCER Genome project
http://www.hupo.org/
Human Proteome Organisation's (HUPO)
http://www.biotechinstitute.org/resources/your_world_magazine.html
Great online magazine w/all things biotechnology
APA Formats
ONLINE APA Reference Formatting Sites: use these sites to help you set up your sources’
reference formats; some may even help you with citation formats
KnightCite:
https://www.calvin.edu/library/knightcite/index.php?standard=APA
Citation Creation:
http://www.citationcreation.com/
BibMe:
http://www.bibme.org/
Son of Citation Machine:
http://citationmachine.net/index2.php?reqstyleid=2&newstyle=2&stylebox=2
1. General Format for Referencing an Internet Site
If there is no obvious author, you can use an organization as an author or use [Anonymous] if needed.
Author last name, first initial. (Year, month day). Title of section/article used. Title of Website.
Retrieved from url.
Example
Brown, T. (2012, Jan 28). How Do Enzymes Work? Biochemistry Alive. Retrieved from
www.tvdsb.on.ca/westmin/science/sbi3a1/digest/enzymes.htm.
**** NOTE: Depending on what kind of internet page you use, you may not be able to find all of this information.
Locate whatever information you can, and put that in your reference note. Leave out whatever you can’t find.
2. General Format for Referencing a Magazine Article
Author(s). Date of Publication. Title of Article. Magazine title: page numbers.
Example
White, J. (2005, July). What are stem cells? National Geographic, 12-13.
3. General Format for Referencing an Electronic Correspondence (also use for
interview/letter)
Author’s Last name, first initial. Date of message. Title or subject line [type of medium]. Retrieved from
Address/Email
Example
Zollworth M. (2006, Feb 20). Re: Down Syndrome [email to McQuillan A.]. Retrieved from:
Alexis_McQuillan@fgsd.k12.or.us.
4. General Format for Referencing a Book
Author’s last name, first initial . (Year of publication). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle. City,
State: Publisher.
Example
White, J. (2005). House of the Scorpion. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Harcourt.
Genetics/Biotech Research Poster Project:
Top 3 Topic Choices
Directions: Today in class, you have time in the computer lab to start identifying your top 3 topic
choices using the internet. For each site you use, make sure to write the APA notation in the space
below. The format for APA referencing of a website is listed below.
General Format for Referencing an Internet Site:
IF NO AUTHOR USE [Anonymous]
• Record the source information for each in APA format. If there is no obvious author, you can use an
organization as an author or use [Anonymous] if needed.
Author last name, first initial. (Year, month day). Title of section/article used. Title of Website. Retrieved
from url.
Example
Brown, T. (2012, Jan 28). How Do Enzymes Work? Biochemistry Alive. Retrieved from
www.tvdsb.on.ca/westmin/science/sbi3a1/digest/enzymes.htm.
**** NOTE: Depending on what website you use, you may not be able to find all
of this information. Locate whatever information you can, and put that in your reference note. Leave out
whatever you can’t find.
The following conditions MAY NOT be used for Option 1:
Down’s Syndrome, Turner’s Syndrome, Kleinfelters Syndrome, Hemophilia, Autism, ADHD, BiPolar,
Schizophrenia,
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Diabetes, “Cancer”
List your 3 top topic choices, the option #, and internet source where you found your “inspiration”
1. Topic_____________________________________________________________
Option: 1
2 (circle one)
APA Source Format—Print neatly
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Topic_____________________________________________________________
Option:
1
2 (circle one)
APA Source Format—Print neatly
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Topic_____________________________________________________________
Option: 1
2 (circle one)
APA Source Format—Print neatly
________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________