Introduction to Group Research Projects

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Introduction to Group Research Projects
Michelle Leslie Graduate Research Consultant
(GRC) 418 Coker Hall meleslie_at_gmail.com
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Todays Agenda

• Introduction to project
• Groups assigned
• Pick a topic with your group
• Start research!

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Project Goals

• Understand the science, medical aspects and
  ethical implications of a genetic
  disease/disorder
• Communicate your findings to the class in a
  creative way

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Focusing your Research

• Aspects of the disorder/disease that you should
  include in your research include
• Disorder/disease description
• Symptoms, Prognosis, Prevalence
• 2) Genetic basis Dominant, Recessive?
  Multigene? What gene(s), if known?
• How does mutation cause disorder/disease?
• Testing How is it done? Who is tested?
• Testing Ethics
• 5) Treatment Options, Therapy, Prognosis

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Resources
You can use any combination of articles,
websites, books, multimedia, interviews, etc to
gather information on your disorder/disease. Som
e useful websites www.genetests.org www.geneetic
alliance.org www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fc
gi?dbOMIM
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1st Presentation
(Oct 4) Preliminary findings (8 min for
presentation discussion) The goal is to
present an overview of what youve found so far
and your ideas for a creative activity. This
will be more of a discussion than a formal
presentation (no PowerPoint). You will be
getting feedback from your classmates about what
they find intriguing and what theyd like to hear
more about. Grade distribution 10
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2nd Presentation
Nov 6, 8, 13 and 15 (30 min for presentation
discussion/activity) This presentation should
cover all aspects of your research. PowerPoint
is one component of this presentationbe creative
with the rest! You may come up with a targeted
group discussion or other activity to engage the
class. Grade distribution 25
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Discussion/Activity

• Larry King Live skit discussing controversial
  issues of Achondroplasia
• Showing a short online video interview with
  family with achondroplasia
• Reading a letter from relative describing
  experiences of having family member with Fragile
  X syndrome

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Choose a Topic
Breast cancer (BRCA1 or BRCA2) Cystic
fibrosis Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Hearing
Loss (Connexin26) Hemochromatosis Huntingtons
Disease Familial Adenomatous Polyposis Marfans
syndrome Neurofibromatisis Osteogenesis
imperfecta Sickle cell anemia Tay-sachs disease