New Drug Targets Genetic Cause of Cystic Fibrosis

The first drug that treats an underlying cause of cystic fibrosis, a variant in the G551D gene, has been approved by the FDA. The drug targets a defect in the protein that causes the disease. This mutation is the cause of cystic fibrosis in only 4% of people with the disease, which makes this story useful for teachers using the "Personalized Medicine" lesson, as it illustrates that drugs can be tailored to certain patients based on their genetic information. 

A link to the New York Times article is here.

A link to the National Public Radio story is here.

pgEd archives - "Genetic Testing: Right for You?"

Dana Waring wrote this piece for "imagine magazine," a publication intended for junior high and high school age students. Published by the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, this article highlights some of the benefits and risks of personal genetics in an accessible and clear manner. Teachers might find this useful as an introductory reading.  

Link here, and PDF here.  

Personal genetic testing and adoptees in the New York Times

Teachers looking for a "real world" example of why a person would want to get their genome analyzed might consider sharing the recent New York Times article with their class.  "With DNA Testing, Suddenly They are Family," written by Rachel Swarns, examines the trend of adoptees seeking out not just information about their health and ancestry, but biological family connections - even distant ones - using direct-to-consumer products.  

Link here.

pgEd archives - Genomics Law Report

In our transition to our new website, not everything came with us.  We thought we would occasionally highlight articles we have written, or newpaper articles where we are cited or quoted, as some of these pieces might serve as useful background both to our mission and in the classroom as well.  

The Genomics Law Report asked us to contribute a short piece to their series " What In ELSI is New?".  The whole series is available for free here, and can also be downloaded in a number of different formats.  Please check out our piece, "The next generation is...in high school," where we make an argument for focusing education efforts on young people via the public school system.  

More from Genomics Law Report: http://www.genomicslawreport.com/

pgEd in your classroom this winter!

in light of our expanded curricular offerings, pgEd is seeking opportunties to teach, or co-teach, in high schools this winter.  Our materials address the social and ethical questions surrounding advances in genetics, as well as providing clear and up to date information on the scientific advances underlying these developments.

We make our workshops engaging to high school students by looking at how genetics impacts athletics, how families might make decisions related to children's genetic data, and the ways DNA continues to transform crime investigations. 

Geographically, Massachusetts and Maine - and more generally, New England - are the locations that are most accessible for our staff.  However, we have had success using our Tandberg videoconferencing system and Skype to connect with students from all over.  

Please email Lauren Tomaselli at ltomaselli@pgEd.med.harvard.edu for more information.