Cindy McInnis's List: An Exploration into Cystic Fibrosis

This is video about a little girl named Violet who has cystic fibrosis. In this video you see her daily trials with the disease. While you are watching this video please note the following:
1. Your impression of Violet
2. What do you think that she is feeling?
3. What is her daily routine- be specific
4. Any ideas of how to improve her daily life
5. What is your groups initial ideas for treatment that would improve her life.

This site is maintained by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The site explains all aspect of the disease and is a tool for impacted families for information and resources.
Investigate this site and find out the following:\
1. How is cystic fibrosis acquired?
2. How is it diagnosed?
3. What are the symptoms?
4. What are the different types of treatment?
5. What is the expected life span?
6. How many people suffer from this in the United States?

Watch the following video regarding the Human Genome Project. It is an interview with Dr. Francis Collins one of the leaders of the project

The Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man site enables anyone to review current and past research involving genetic traits and disorders.
Do a search for Cystic Fibrosis. Explore past research projects and identify three that are similar to your ideas. Summarize their results and identify what organism they used for testing. The organism that they chose is called their model organism.

This page lists three categories of models. Click on each of the three types and find a model organism that you believe will be the best match for your research idea. Support your idea with why you think it will be the best fit. Consider genetic similarities, cost, and time required for each.

The interactive website from the American Natural History Museum allows you to simulate the process of pcr.

After performing the simulation summarize each of the steps of PCR.
What is the benefit of PCR and why would it help you in your testing?

Microarrays are another biotechnology tool that enables researchers to perform genetic tests quickly. Go through the interactive and plan a test for your research using microarrays.

Gel Electrophoresis enable researchers to compare DNA based on restriction analysis. Go through the interaction and then determine why PCR is so important for this process.

We will traveling to the Contemporary Science Center to study drug treatments for cystic fibrosis. Review this site and read the presentation for the study. What are the objectives of our study?

Your group has been researching both drug and genetic treatments for cystic fibrosis. You have decided by this time whether your group prefers to further investigate gene therapy or drug treatments. Read the following site and discuss in your group the pros and cons of gene therapy. What are some considerations that are needed for using gene therapy? Be prepared to support your groups treatment research plan and defend the ethical implication of your decision.

The video explains the ethical implications of the Human Genome project. What do you think are some ethical, legal and social implications of the Human Genome project?

The Human Genome project directs some of the budget each year for a group that studies these issues. Do you think it is a conflict of interest for them to study the social considerations of their own project?

Would you want to have your entire DNA sequenced? Explain your reasoning.