Human Genome Project - Cover Sheet SCI Home | SCI Faculty Page | Case Notes | Reference List | Users Notes

Author - Linda Hensel-Burke - Summer 1998

Case Purpose The purposes of this case are to introduce students to: 1-- "big science" (or "pork barrel" funded projects) as opposed to smaller competitively funded basic research programs, 2-- the interweaving of technology and science, 3--the publication archive including data availability on the internet, and 4--ethical issues that burgeon from the fast pace of molecular genetic research and how the scientific community "oversees" ethical issues.

Relation to Texts The in class exercises demonstrate patterns and how synthesis of patterns support theory (Zimon and Bronowski), scientific communication (all texts), and science interfacing with society (Zimon, Angel). This case study also fits nicely with Watson's Double Helix. The Human Genome Project resulted in part from Watson's successful politicking. James Watson was the director of the Human Genome project for several years.

Description of Case Materials

• Patterns--a class exercise using a model to build proteins from DNA
• Background Information--aninternet homework assignment on the Human Genome Project
• Patterns--a class exercise searching for a gene in a DNA sequence
  • Sequence 1 (salmon melanin concentrating hormone gene)
  • Sequence 2 (human keratin gene)
  • Sequence 3 (mouse actin gene)
• Data Base Use--a class exercise on accessing and using an internetdata base
• Ethics--a discussion of ethical issue projects funded by the Human Genome Project
• Ethics--a debate of ethical issues arising from the Human Genome Project

Case Use This case can be stretched over a two to three week period if desired. The instructor can begin with a short discussion on DNA structure and how that leads to proteins. The students will then use the central dogma model to produce normal and abnormal proteins and see how protein changes can lead to disease.

A homework assignment allows the students to peruse the internet and learn about the Human Genome Project. This background material can be discussed in class. The goal of the Human Genome Project is to gather the DNA sequence of the entire human genome even though only 3-10% is (protein) coding sequence (the remaining sequence may be involved in packaging the DNA, etc.). Finding a Gene in a Pile of Data is an exercise in which the students will look for a gene sequence in a stretch of DNA. The instructor will ask the students to determine what types of patterns to look for. An additional exercise looks at data base use. The students will enter their assigned DNA sequences in a computer program that searches the existing DNA sequence data bases. They will learn what their gene is, what organism it is probably from, and what organism(s) it is evolutionary related to.

Two exercises that allow the students to discuss ethical issues can be included at anytime throughout the case. The students can either debate ethical issues that have evolved due to the Human Genome Project and/or discuss the way that the scientific community itself deals with ethical issues. If time allows, a class discussion on the pros and cons of duplication of efforts would be appropriate. Two private companies have determined that they can have the human genome sequence completed in three years, well ahead of the 2005 projected completion date for the government-funded Human Genome Project (Science, 1998, 280:1540). The article is short and provides a basis for a thought-provoking discussion.