THE FARM REVEALED
PROGRAMME 2: DNA SEQUENCING AND ANALYSIS
ACTIVITIES
Clip-related activities
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Genetics and human behaviour
Clip 1: 11:05 – 13:36
- Opens with Giles Corin saying, 'Right, so these are the alcoholic mice…'
- Closes with Professor Brown saying, '…when you might develop those diseases.'
Activity 1
Do you want to know what disease you are at risk of getting? Would you have a genetic test for a disease that you could do nothing about? Do you want to know what you will die of?
Activity 2
Do you think that the alcohol preference gene that Professor Brown's team has found in mice will explain away alcoholism in humans?
Some people go red in the face and feel dizzy and sick when they drink alcohol – the cause is genetic. In these people, one of the genes that help metabolise alcohol is inactive and gives its bearers an unpleasant sensation. This gene is thought to be a deterrent to drinking alcohol. However, it is most common in Asian populations, where drinking alcohol is also common. In fact, the gene doesn't appear to have a straight forward deterrent effect at all. This goes to show that there is more, much more, than a single gene that influences alcohol drinking in humans.
What other factors apart from genetics might influence someone's use of alcohol. Examples include childhood experience, stress, unhappiness, mental illness, depression, peer pressure, working culture, celebration and boredom.
Further activities
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Consequences of genetic technologies
Activity 1
Go to the Wellcome Institute Human Genome pages:
http://genome.wellcome.ac.uk/node30086.html
In the Interactive Centre choose 'Zoom in on your Genome'. This is a short, fun exercise that will orientate you to the size and structure of the genome.
Then discuss, or write down, five features of DNA. (For example, DNA acts as a code because it has a sequence. It comes in the form of double strands. DNA strands are only lightly bonded together, which gives it the flexibility to open out into single strands and reveal its code. Mistakes made in DNA replication provide the raw material for evolution. Almost all organisms on earth are built from DNA codes. Without DNA there could be no life on earth.)
Activity 2
Play the DNA Detective Game on this site:
http://insideout.rigb.org/ri/dna/dna/index.html
See what you have learnt about DNA detective work from the film.
Activity 3
Read these Royal Society pages about genetic testing:
www.royalsoc.ac.uk/page.asp?id=1264
Discuss whether you agree with the moratorium on the use of genetic data in the insurance industry.
