Biology Graduation Project
Topic: Select a disorder or disease process pertaining to any organ system in the Human Body.
(Please stay with physiological processes instead of psychological disorders; i.e.; do not select
bipolar disorder, manic depression, schizophrenia, etc.)
Goal: To learn how normal body processes and homeostasis can become compromised by
anomalous situations in organs and organ systems such as the effects of the disorder(s) or the
disease process and how it can diminish life expectancy, quality of life, activities of daily living,
etc.
Assignment:
1. After you have selected a disease or disorder, research the causes and effects of the
disease / disorder using as many of the following resources as possible:
a. textbooks
b. medical journals
c. internet (peer reviewed Web sites),
d. medical dictionaries
e. interview a nurse or physician that treats the disorder/disease
f. interview a patient that exhibits the disorder or disease (*must have subject’s
permission to include their information in your project and a signed consent
form), and
g. any other credible resources
2. Make sure to include a cover page with title and a reference page with works cited.
Pictures, charts, diagrams or figures may not be more than 3” x 3” and must be cited as a
source. Margins must be 1 inch on each end and font must be either 10 or 12 points and
in Times New Roman black. *Do not use first or second person narrative voice,
contractions, slang terms, or use bullet lists as “space filler”!
Possible Topics
Integumentary
Nervous/special senses
Respiratory
Urinary
Skeletal
Endocrine
Lymphatic/Immune
Reproductive
Muscular
Cardiovascular/blood
Digestive
Information to Include in Your Project
Address the following questions in your project. Be as detailed as possible.

Introduce the name of the disease/disorder or process of imbalance. Does it have any
common names in addition to its scientific name? (For example: Amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis or ALS is commonly known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease”….and Trisomy 21 is
commonly called “Downs Syndrome”
X. Williams-Earlie
1
May 2015

Is the disorder/disease genetically linked? (sex-linked / recessive linkage)
Which chromosome(s) carry the gene(s) for this?

What organ or organ system does the disorder/disease primarily impact in humans? How
might it affect the whole body if it is progressive?

What are the chief symptoms of this disorder/disease? (What are they key signs a
physician looks for in diagnosing a patient with it?)

How do these signs/symptoms affect the patient in terms of accomplishing activities of
daily living? (Does it impact the ability to walk, talk, eat, bathe, brush teeth, work, etc.)

What are some therapeutic measures to counter the problems or at least lessen the
severity of the problems with this disease/disorder? (medications, rehabilitative therapies,
surgeries, etc.)

What is the incidence of occurrence for this disease/disorder? What is the prognosis or
outlook for a patient who has it?
X. Williams-Earlie
2
May 2015
Scoring Rubric
Rubric Requirements
Not Yet
Acceptable
___Need to add a cover, page
numbers, a title, and/or class
period
___Name, class period and
project title are present
___Need to correct project for
neatness and correct
information
___Project complete, all pages
labeled, and neat
Content
___Topic does not fall within
the scope of physiological
problems in the human body.
___Topic is appropriate for
disease or disorder and is
categorized as a homeostatic
imbalance that clearly impairs
one or more systems.
Mechanics
___There are too many
grammatical, spelling, and
syntax errors.
Quality/Quantity of
Information
___Sentences are poorly
written and minimal effort was
given to answering each of the
questions.
___Sentences are free or nearly
free of grammatical errors,
spelling errors/typos, and has
clean, flowing sentence
structure and syntax is
completely coherent, good use
of transitions in answering
topic questions.
___Well done research,
employs at least 3 reputable
sources, thoroughly explains
process and cause/effect
relationship.
Final Submission
complete
X. Williams-Earlie
3
May 2015