The video tells the stories of 2 couples following the discovery that their child has Tay-Sachs disease, an incurable disorder caused by the misspelling of just one letter out of three billion in the entire human genome.
This video segment from NOVA: Cracking the Code of Life illustrates the power of the genetic code.
Structure and features
Watch the video and consider your responses to the following questions to be included in your information report:
- what is a mutation?
- how does one letter changing in the DNA sequence affect a person’s life?
- consider whether we should know the human genome sequence, and who should the sequence of the genome be for?
- should the genome be owned by all citizens on Earth, or owned by pharmaceutical companies or countries?
- what issues arise from these question?
Write an information report based on your responses and provide your opinion. Send you information report to your teacher.
Teacher notes
- Science as a human endeavour strand
- Biological sciences
- Year 10
- Genetics.
Use and influence.
People use scientific knowledge to evaluate whether they accept claims, explanations or predictions, and advances in science can affect people’s lives, including generating new career opportunities.
How does society affect science? How has technology changed our understanding of genetics? What are some of the ethical considerations of genetics and the knowledge of gene sequences and treatment of diseases?
