1) Discuss genomics as it relates to nursing practice.
Nurses can use genomics to promote optimal care for their client with family histories covering
at least 3 generations, and the current and present health status of each family member. Nurses
also can apply population data to the client information to determine if there may be a genetic
risk. Examples are if the client’s family has a higher prevalence of a particular disease compared
to the general population, diagnosis of a disease in family member at an unusually young age,
diagnosis of a family member with an unusual form of cancer or with more than one type, or if a
family member has had an unusual reaction to a drug.
2) Identify a few ways to infuse genomic content into didactic and clinical courses.
*There is nothing about this in the books, just her Power Point slides*
Patho & Pharm Course (Didactic)
-Combined course
-Course objectives pertaining to genomics added
-Faculty encourage to discuss genomics in class and add questions pertaining to it on
examinations
-Pharmacogenomics (= newer branch of pharmacogenetics that involves working with the
entire genome to determine multiple individual genetic factors that influence a person’s response
to specific medications; used to select medications and their doses that would be most efficient
for the client)
Clinical
-Clinical faculty to use examples of genomics in clinical conferences
- Pharmacogenomics
3) Discuss 2 methods of evaluating the effectiveness of genomic instruction.
*Once again, only in her Power Point*
-Essay Questions, ex. Discuss the influence of genetics and genomics on the development and
treatment of diseases, illnesses and conditions. Answer: explanation it can provide for
idiosyncratic responses to drugs, Group diseases that have genetic factor associated to it. Other
example shown was to identify genetic defect and discuss genomic factors (midterm/final
exam’09)
-Multiple Choice Questions – Ask to apply genomics to cases (final exam 2009)
-Reflective Journals regarding Home-Base and genomics
4) Determine where genomic content may fit into other curricula.
*Only in Power Point*
-Pharmacology, Pathophysiology, Adult Health, Women’s Health, Pediatrics, Psych Courses
•
Define “genetic predisposition” – The presence of certain factors in a person’s genetic makeup,
or genome, which increases the individual’s likelihood of eventually developing one or more
diseases
•
Immunogenic gene therapy could lead to what? (describe) – Body rejecting it…
Gene Therapy - To treat a given disease by providing a temporary substitute for, or initiate
permanent changes in, the patient’s own genetic functioning. Artificially produced DNA splices
called recombinant DNA (rDNA) are inserted into a vector. Vectors vary, but viruses are
typically used, with the adenoviruses (this includes the influenza virus) most commonly used.
The vector is then injected into the patient to therapeutically infect human cells. If successful,
the viral genome will be combined with the human host cell genome and specific proteins will be
produced to counter a disease process. Ideally, it would result in a permanent positive
psychologic change in the host. Unfortunately, the vector (usually a virus) and / or the proteins
produced may also be immunogenic though, eliciting an immune response.
•
Describe how exogenous human insulin can be produced
The human insulin gene is inserted into the genome of the bacterial cells of Escherichia coli. The
resulting culture artificially generates human insulin on a large scale. Although it has to be isolated and
then purified, the majority of the world’s medical insulin supply has been produced by this method for
well over a decade. Humulin is the brand name for a group of biosynthetic human insulin products.