|
Carlene Henderson and her students watch the NOVA Web site interactive
explaining how RNAi works.
|
|
To what extent are humans shaped by nature vs. nurture? Carlene Henderson's
undergraduate students explore this enduring question as they study conception
through adolescence in a course on Human Development at University of
Wisconsin, Superior. With the help NOVA's "Life's Greatest Miracle" and NOVA
scienceNOW's "RNAi" programs, Henderson provides her students—all
pre-service teachers—with new ways to explore the relationship between
genetics and the environment.
Students examine biological processes that take place from conception to birth.
After viewing "Life's Greatest Miracle," students discuss what can go wrong
during prenatal development and whether the cause is genetic (nature) or
environmental (nurture). Henderson asks students to name genetic or
environmental influences on fetal growth and development and draws the
distinction between the results. For example, Down syndrome as a product of an
error during meiosis resulting in three 21st chromosomes or fetal alcohol
syndrome caused by drinking alcohol during pregnancy.
Students then review the structure of DNA. In small groups, students discuss
how they think DNA provides instructions for fetal development. Next, students
identify five genetic traits they inherited from their biological family, five
traits that are the result of environmental factors, and an unspecified number
of traits for which they don't know the origin.
This generates a discussion of genetic disorders—diseases that result
from abnormalities in the genes. The class creates a list of diseases and
identifies those they believe have a genetic basis. For example, AIDS, Down
syndrome, sickle cell disease, polio, and diabetes. Students discuss the
importance of research on genetic disorders, the search for a cure, and the
scientific advances that have been made in the past century.
Following this discussion, students view NOVA scienceNOW's "RNAi" segment
online to learn
how an unexpected outcome in genetics research led to the discovery of RNAi.
Henderson says students are surprised to realize the number of diseases listed
in the video segment that might be genetically linked. In small groups,
students look through the accompanying features on the NOVA scienceNOW RNAi Web
site to
learn more about the role of RNA in cells and the potential impact of the
discovery of RNAi. Using examples of potential applications from curing genetic
disorders to decoding the human genome, students consider the implications for
future treatments of disease.
At the end of the lesson, students write a reflective paper about what they
have learned about the reproductive process, nature vs. nurture, and how
genetics and the environment may impact human development. Henderson says she
emphasizes to students that because some things are beyond a person's control,
it is important that they have empathy towards the students that they will be
teaching. Henderson says that in reflecting on this unit, students stressed the
idea that knowledge and understanding will be important for them in supporting
their future learners.
For more information, Henderson can be contacted at
|
