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Course: Middle school biology - NGSS > Unit 10
Lesson 3: Unit 7 activitiesActivity: Why do some mutations cause genetic disorders?
Make science come alive in your classroom with this free hands-on activity aligned to middle school NGSS standards.
Activity: why do some gene mutations cause genetic disorders?
Imagine learning that you have a gene mutation that could result in a serious disease. Now imagine finding out that if you catch it early enough, you can take steps to lessen the effects of the disease.
In fact, there are many genetic disorders (diseases caused by gene mutations), for which early detection can help improve lives. In this activity, students explore one of these disorders: galactosemia. Students will use real genetic data to understand why some mutations cause galactosemia and others don’t. They will also take on the role of a doctor, interpreting test results of patients with galactosemia and learning how newborn screening programs can detect mutations early.
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Overview
This activity is designed to be completed in two 45-minute class periods, with additional time required for follow-up creative projects. The activity consists of the following parts:
- Setting the stage—Students read and demonstrate understanding that mutations in a gene can cause changes to the structure and function of the protein, which can have effects on the organism. (10 minutes)
- Investigation (Part 1)—Students translate codons and identify chemical properties of amino acids. Students construct an explanation for why certain mutations result in galactosemia, and others don’t. (20 minutes)
- Investigation (Part 2)—Students read about newborn screening programs, and look at test results to identify a patient with galactosemia. (10 minutes)
- Let's get creative!—Students imagine they are public health officials. They research which genetic conditions are included in their state's newborn screening program, and create an educational poster. (45 minutes)
- Keep creating!—Students can choose from additional project ideas. Each project encourages students to combine scientific knowledge with creativity to produce something new.
Printable resources
NGSS performance expectations
MS-LS3-1. Develop and use a model to describe why structural changes to genes (mutations) located on chromosomes may affect proteins and may result in harmful, beneficial, or neutral effects to the structure and function of the organism.
Want to join the conversation?
Does vaping cause genetic disorders?(3 votes)
It does if you plan to give birth(45 votes)
What can cause different kinds of genetic disorders?(5 votes)
A possible issue with the mother during pregnancy, or a mishap in mutations during the embryos development for example, several removed genes can code for a person to end up having downs syndrome.(4 votes)
Are all diseases caused by mutations?(2 votes)
No, some syndromes and diseases are caused by genetic mutation or are inherited from your parents genes but in most cases viruses and bacteria are caused by external threats that attack your immune system. Adding on to this if you have a genetic disease that affects and/or weakens your immune system like Severe Combined Immunodeficiency or SCID it could make you weaker to fighting an infection.
Happy Learning!(6 votes)
- can smoking cause harmful things to be passed down to your kids?(3 votes)
Yes, smoking can indeed have harmful effects on both the smoker and their offspring. Smoking tobacco exposes the smoker to numerous toxic chemicals, including nicotine, tar, and carbon monoxide, which can have adverse health effects. While the direct impact of smoking on offspring is not as pronounced as on the smoker themselves, there are still potential risks to consider including prenatal exposure, epigenetic changes, secondhand smoke exposure, and behavioral influence.(3 votes)
- if u smoke can that give ur kid genetic disorders?(3 votes)
- Smoking can increase the risk of certain genetic disorders and other health problems in children, both before and after birth. Prenatal exposure to cigarette smoke has been linked to various adverse effects on fetal development.(1 vote)
- if ur using drugs while preganet what can happen to the baby(2 votes)
- Using drugs during pregnancy can have serious and harmful effects on both the mother and the developing baby. The specific consequences depend on the type of drug, the timing and duration of exposure, and other factors such as the mother's health and lifestyle. Here are some potential risks associated with drug use during pregnancy: Birth Defects, Low Birth Weight, Premature birth, Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), long-term developmental issues, miscarriage and stillbirth.(2 votes)
- does smoking ciguars effect your health does it have chemicals(2 votes)
- Are all diseases caused by mutations?(2 votes)
- Not all diseases are caused by mutations, but mutations can play a significant role in the development of many diseases. These include genetic diseases, cancer, infectious diseases, complex diseases and AID's.(2 votes)
- What happens if you take drugs while pregnant? does it harm the baby?(2 votes)
- MMMM yess, truly awe inspiering * sips tea *(2 votes)
