Name:___________________
Per:_____ Date:___________
Genetics Project
Adapted from Genetic Counseling from the International Center for Leadership in Education: www.leadered.com
and from Decisions, Decisions!: A Genetics Role-playing Activity by Sharon Nelson at
http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/scmsAdmin/uploads/001/674/file_41480_7636617_0_genetics.doc Genotypes are from
“Some Human Genetic Traits and Conditions” at http://web.clas.ufl.edu
Scenario:
You are a genetics counselor. A married couple, Robert and Maria
Barone, has made an appointment with you to discuss their risk of
having a child with a particular genetic disorder.
Procedure:
1. Research the genetic disorder.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Record all internet sites (write the web address and the
title), encyclopedias, books, etc. you use.
2. Write a report in a letter format to the Barones. Include:
 An explanation of how traits are passed from parent to offspring. Be detailed,
but make sure to explain any scientific terms in a way that they can understand. Use
the following terms: chromosomes, genes, DNA, dominant OR recessive.
 An explanation of the disorder including:
o Definition/ Cause (What is it?)
o Whether it is a dominant or recessive trait
o Symptoms (signs of the disease)
o What problems does the disease cause the patient (daily living problems,
complications, etc.)
o How is it treated?
o How common is the disorder among all people (Ex – 1 out of 25 000)?
(epidemiology, incidence)
o Who can be affected with the disorder? (males, females, ethnic groups, etc)
 Explain Punnett Squares and discuss their chances of having a child with
the disorder (Calculate the % by using a Punnett Square). You will need to have the
genotypes of the parents before you complete the Punnett Square.
 All of the report must be in your own words, unless you use quotation
marks and cite the person or resource you got the quote from.
CHOOSE ONE DISEASE TO DO YOUR RESEARCH ON.
Disorder List / scenarios:
o Both of the Barones have Achondroplasia (one type of dwarfism). They have just
finished building a house to suit their size and are ready to start a family. They want
your advice.
o Both of Maria’s parents are healthy, but her grandfather died at the age of 43 after being
diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease. The Barones have many questions and seek
you out for information.
o The Barones have 2 daughters. The oldest is visually impaired. The youngest is an
albino. They would like another child and seek your advice about Albinism.
o Maria and Robert have a 3 year old that has cystic fibrosis, a disease of the
respiratory system. Maria is 3 months pregnant with their second baby, and her doctor
referred her to you.
o Maria and Robert have a 13 year old daughter who is 6 feet tall. After some discussion
about her health and some probing into the family’s history, the family doctor suspects
from Marfan’s Syndrome. He refers the Barones to you for genetic counseling to help
the family deal with the daughter’s condition.
Helpful websites to get you started:

www.kidshealth.org

The Genetic Science Learning Center at http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/

March of Dimes at http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/4439.asp

National Tay-Sachs and Allied Diseases Association at http://ntsad.org/

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at http://www.cff.org/

The Sickle Cell Information Center at http://www.scinfo.org/

Huntington’s Disease Society of America at http://www.hdsa.org/ (takes a few minutes
to load…hit Stop and then go through the pull down menus at the top of the page

Huntington’s Disease Association (United Kingdom) at http://www.hda.org.uk/

The National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation (please do a search)

Phenylketonuria (PKU) disease https://ufhealth.org/phenylketonuria
Name:____________________
Per:_____ Date:____________
Genetics Project Rubric
Criteria
Is there a Full Heading and Title (of the genetic
disorder) on the front of the report?
Explanation of How Traits are Inherited: (15pts)
Is the explanation detailed and correct?
Possible points
/5
/ 10
Does the explanation include the 4 terms and are they
used correctly? (chromosomes, genes, DNA, dom/rec.)
Explanation of the Disorder: (35pts)
/5
Is the disorder completely and accurately defined?
/ 10
Are the symptoms completely and accurately stated?
/5
Are the problems accurately explained and in enough
detail?
Is the treatment for the condition complete and
accurate?
The commonness of the disorder is stated.
/5
/5
/5
Lists in detail the people most commonly affected by
the disorder.
Chance of Having Child with the Disorder: (20pts)
/5
Parent’s genotypes on the Punnett Square are accurate
/5
Possible children’s genotypes in the Punnett Square
are accurate based on the parent genotypes.
The report accurately explains the chance (%) of the
parents having a child with the disorder
References: (10pts)
At least 1 source is cited with title, and where
appropriate, author, date, page numbers, website
address,
The Look of the Report: (15pts)
/ 10
/5
/ 10
Neat with good handwriting, or typed?
/5
Fewer than 5 spelling or grammar mistakes?
/5
Obviously in own words or includes quotes with
citations
/5
TOTAL:
/ 100