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Why Do Some People with the Sickle Cell Genotype Not Have Symptoms?

A circle containing round and sickle shapes; a couple are round with irregular edges.

Topic

  • Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
  • DNA & RNA
  • Genetics
  • Genetic Disease
  • Mutations

Resource Type

  • Activities
  • Card Activities

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
Saved By
6 Users
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Description

In this inquiry-based activity, students engage in science practices to figure out why some people with a genetic condition that usually leads to sickle cell disease do not have disease symptoms.

This activity is based on content covered in the Scientists at Work video A Genetic Treatment for Sickle Cell Disease. Instead of frontloading information from the film, the activity guides students through “figuring out” the key concepts first. As they investigate and make sense of the phenomenon, students engage in practices such as observing, questioning, and using and developing models.

The “Card Images” ZIP file contains individual image files for the cards used in this activity that can be used in the classroom, particularly in online courses. A document within the ZIP file contains suggestions for their use. These card images are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) license. We would ask that you attribute these to BioInteractive and not use them for commercial purposes.

The “Resource Google Folder” link directs to a Google Drive folder of resource documents in the Google Docs format. Not all downloadable documents for the resource may be available in this format. The Google Drive folder is set as “View Only”; to save a copy of a document in this folder to your Google Drive, open that document, then select File → “Make a copy.” These documents can be copied, modified, and distributed online following the Terms of Use listed in the “Details” section below, including crediting BioInteractive.

Student Learning Targets

  • Develop and use models to figure out how genes are transcribed and translated.
  • Construct an evidence-based explanation of how genotype leads to phenotype.
  • Analyze and interpret data to identify patterns that determine cause-and-effect relationships.

Estimated Time

Four 50-minute class periods.

Key Terms

amino acid, codon, hemoglobin, messenger RNA (mRNA), mutation, protein, red blood cell, transcription, translation
 

Terms of Use

The resource is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. No rights are granted to use HHMI’s or BioInteractive’s names or logos independent from this Resource or in any derivative works.

Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)

PDF files meet criteria. Other file types meet criteria.

Version History

Date Published 11.28.22

NGSS 2013

HS-LS1-1, HS-LS3-1, HS-LS3-2; SEP1, SEP2, SEP6, SEP7

AP Biology 2019

IST-1.N, IST-2.A, IST-2.E, IST-4.A, SYI-3.B; SP2, SP6

IB Biology 2016

2.7, 3.1, 6.2, 7.2, 7.3

Common Core 2010

ELA.RST.9–12.2, ELA.RST.9–12.4, ELA.WHST.9–12.2

Vision and Change 2009

CC2, CC3; DP1, DP3

Materials

Resource Google Folder (link)
Educator Materials (PDF) 457 KB
Educator Slides (PPTX) 8 MB
Student Handout (PDF) 683 KB
Gene Expression Cards (PDF) 913 KB
Card Images (ZIP) 3 MB
Genetic Code Chart (PDF) 550 KB
Protein Modeling Slides (PPTX) 962 KB

Additional Materials

  • protein modeling materials (e.g., graph paper, slides, or a kit)
  • a computer/device with online access

Use This Resource With

Video Resource
A Genetic Treatment for Sickle Cell Disease
Interactive Media Resource
Central Dogma and Genetic Medicine

Explore Related Content

Other Resources About Sickle Cell Disease

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An illustration of sickled red blood cells clogging a blood vessel
Scientists at Work
A Genetic Treatment for Sickle Cell Disease

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Animations
DNA Damage and Mutations
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Sickle Cell Disease
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Mismatch Repair
Image from the activity
Data Points
Cell Division and Cancer Risk
Image of the cell cycle from the video
Clips
Mutations in Cancer
Computer model of DNA replication
Animations
Trinucleotide Repeat
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Click & Learn
The p53 Gene and Cancer
Illustration of DNA transcription from the activity
Card Activities
“Fixing” Gene Expression
Illustration of RNA translation
Click & Learn
Central Dogma and Genetic Medicine
Image of the CRISPR Cas9 molecules from the interactive
Click & Learn
CRISPR-Cas9 Mechanism & Applications
HHMI BioInteractive
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