Cracking the Code of Life Video Reflection

After watching the film, Cracking the Code of Life, write a reflection in your own blog as a reaction to the film. What ideas were completely new to you? What sparked a reaction in you? Something scary, sad, happy, interesting, weird, etc... What did you learn from watching this film? Did any of your questions get answered as you watched this film? Did this film bring about any new questions?

Also, in your response, I would like you to respond to the questions below in the section "After watching".  You are welcome to use any of the guiding questions or before watching questions in your reflection if they help you to write.


***  You will go to three classmate's blogs of your choice and respond to their ideas in at least two sentences.  You can agree, disagree, pose questions, give a connection, etc...

Watch Cracking Code of Life Online at NOVA

Guiding Questions: 

• How does the genetic material of living things compare?
• What are the mechanisms that drive mutations? 
• What is the Human Genome Project? 
• In what ways could the manipulation of genes affect human health? 
• What are the ethical and social/cultural aspects of intentional genetic manipulation? 

While watching the video, be thinking about these questions: 

• What do they describe DNA as?  
• How can DNA be helpful to detect diseases early in life? 
• What might be the problems with this? 
• How are they processing human DNA? 

After watching the film:  Cracking the Code of Life

Please read these questions fully and answer each as part of your reflection of this film.  

1.  Sequencing the human genome may bring to light a number of genes that are the basis for known genetic diseases or that predispose a person to a condition such as heart disease, cancer, or Alzheimer’s disease.  Yet finding a gene for an illness may not lead to an immediate cure.  Would you want to be tested to learn whether they had a genetic disease or predisposition if no cure was available?  Why or why not?  

2.  Consider a scenario in which a lab needs DNA samples for use in genetic testing studies.  Researchers are searching for a variant of a gene that provides resistance to specific bacterial diseases.  If the company finds this gene, it may be able to produce a drug to sell to people who have these diseases.  Would you agree to have your DNA be part of the study?  Why or why not?  Would you want royalties for your part in finding the gene?  What if during the testing, the company discovered you had a gene that might result in a health problem later in life?  Would you want to be informed?  Why or why not?  

3.  As more is learned about genes, there is a risk that the information will be used to define certain members of society by their genetic makeup.  Identify the meaning of the terms genetic discrimination and genetic privacy.  What are some ways to protect against this type of genetic discrimination?