Genetic testing is one of the most popular science topics today. It is a medical test used to determine variations in genes, chromosomes, and even proteins (CDC, 2020). A genetic test’s findings can be used to determine if an individual has or is vulnerable to a particular genetic condition or disorder. Besides, the test can help determine if an individual has an increased, low, or no risk of developing or transmitting a particular genetic disorder. Genetic testing is considered one of the main scientific breakthroughs of the century because more than one thousand genetic tests are available, and more are still being developed. The changes identified through a genetic test are known as DNA mutations (CDC, 2020). The test is essential in multiple healthcare areas and can change the type of care a family or individual receives because of their genetic make-up or composition. For example, genetic tests are being used today to determine an individual’s risk of developing a chronic health condition such as cancer. Results of genetic tests take few days. Family members share a common DNA, and if one has a mutation, other family members likely have the same mutation, too ( Balaji & Terry, 2015) . Genetic tests are conducted for several reasons. These reasons include the need to determine if one has a genetic condition or disorder inherited from the family before developing symptoms and identify the possibility of a pregnancy with a particular genetic condition in the future. Besides, existing evidence indicates that the tests are used to diagnose a genetic health issue in individuals with symptoms and provide guidance in cancer prevention and treatment (Balaji & Terry, 2015) . Research findings indicate that genetic testing can make significant and paramount contributions to the prevention and early treatment of hereditary diseases and disorders through appropriate interventions.
The MS-LS3-1 Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits standard aligns with the selected g enetic testing topic. The standard requires learners to develop and apply a framework to explain why structural genetic changes (mutation) which occur on chromosomes can have an effect and cause harm, benefits, or a neutral outcome on the structure as well as the function of a living organism (Next Generation Science, n.d.). The topic can be used to explain to learners how organisms inherit some of the characteristics they observe from parents. By explaining why people take different genetic tests, they will have a clear and broader understanding of how genetic mutations can cause positive or negative effects and how they manifest physically in offspring who inherit them. The topic can contribute to the learner’s conceptual understanding of the idea that genetic mutation or changes can lead to the development of different proteins. Besides, the reasons for conducting a genetic test can be used to teach how traits parental traits are inherited. This can help students understand the connection between genes, proteins, and an individual’s traits. Also, the topic can be used to explain why there are variations in traits. Different people have different characteristics. Some of them are good while others are undesirable. For example, a hereditary disorder is not desirable. However, others, such as resistance to a particular disease, are desirable. These differences in traits are caused by the type of genetic information passed down to an offspring. They are a product of mutations. Therefore, by incorporating the topic in a science lesson on heredity, based on the identified NGSS standard for K6-8, a learner can achieve the standard’s objectives. By the end of the lesson or topic, learners would be able to identify use models to explain gene mutations that cause desirable or undesirable traits in living organisms.
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References
Balaji, D., & Terry, S. F. (2015). Benefits and risks of sharing Genomic information. Genetic Testing and Molecular Biomarkers , 19 (12), 648-649. https://doi.org/10.1089/gtmb.2015.29008.sjt
CDC. (2020, March 23). Genetic testing . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/gtesting/genetic_testing.htm
Next Generation Science Standards. (n.d.). MS-LS3-1 heredity: Inheritance and variation of traits . https://www.nextgenscience.org/pe/ms-ls3-1-heredity-inheritance-and-variation-traits
