Links for teachers

Your Genome

Your Genome is intended to help people understand genetics and genomic science and the implications for us all.

On this site, you'll find answers to questions like 'What is a genome?', 'How do you sequence the DNA of an organism?', and 'What could this information be used for?'

It also covers some background biology, provides insight into scientific life at the Sanger Institute, and enables access to the views and concerns of leading researchers in the field.

The 'general' information sections were created for the intelligent non-expert, while the 'detailed' sections are designed for those looking for in-depth coverage of the science and processes.

Resources include:
- Glossary
- Ethics and Issues
- People profiles
- Recommended links
- Animations
- Downloads and activities eg Origami DNA, Sequence Bracelets

BioEthics Education Project (beep)

Online resources aimed at supporting the teaching bioethics, and guidance on managing and organising discussion based activities.

Resources include helpful hints about how to start and structure discussion activities, lesson ideas, and further reading sources.

Areas covered include:
- Gene technology and Cystic Fibrosis
- Development of the early embryo
- Stem cell therapy
- Applications of DNA profiling
- The use of Genetic Engineering in sports

Biotechnology and Biosciences Research Council (BBSRC)

BBSRC have a number of useful resources for use with 14yrs+ students.

These include:

- Pupil Researcher Initiative Ideas and Evidence Science Pack
CD-ROM designed to support the Ideas and Evidence part of GCSE, about the nature of science: how it works, its controversies, uncertainties and ethics. Covers a number of areas including cloning.

- Stem cells - science and ethics
Booklet containing classroom activities and information about science of stem cells and ethical issues concerning embryonic and tissue stem cells.

- Case studies in cell and molecular biology for post-16 students
Biotechnology case studies on current research and research findings, covering topics such as cloning and gene therapy.

- Organising a schools-based consensus conference

This pack provides background information on how to organise a consensus conference.

Centre of the Cell

The Centre of the Cell website includes “facts, pictures, games and films inspired by the ongoing work of more than 60 leading scientists and doctors at Queen Mary, University of London and Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry”.

Useful sections:
- Cellpedia
- Teachers
- Students

Citizen Science

Citizen Science activities and materials are designed to engage young people and teachers in discussion about bio-medical science issues that affect society today.

Classroom resources available include:
- Debating formats
- Exploring controversial issues – a teachers’ guide
- Discover Debate Decide: Exploring Ethical Issues
- Genetic testing – Discussion continuum
- Genome games
- Ethics, medicine and me

Ethical Emporium

“A rich collection of resources for teaching ethics in the classroom”.

These resources provide useful background information on teaching ethics and help on how to address ethical issues in the classroom.

Resources include curriculum links relating to teaching ethics at KS4 and KS5, different formats for running a class discussion, and guidance on discussing sensitive and controversial issues

Discussion topics include:
- Genes and Antisocial Behaviour
- Genetic Screening
- Prenatal testing

Films for Learning

The Films for Learning project “enables teachers and students to make their own custom video resources that they share online, inspiring other students teachers and schools to use them, as well as make and contribute their own”.

Includes short films made within Inside DNA: A Genomic Revolution
- DNA Discussed – visitors to the Inside DNA exhibition sharing their views about a variety of different genetics issues
- Big DNA Questions Answered

Other resources available include:
- How To - A Guide to Making Films for Learning: a useful guide which you can print out and copy for your students
- Media Permission Form: a general form we use for students participating in Films for learning projects. Feel free to adapt the wording for your own establishment
- Whose going to be who? an explanation of what everyone does in a film crew including a downloadable template
- How to run a Film Making Staff Meeting

These can all be found in the Community section

Genetic Futures

Programme of events developed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the structure of DNA in 2003. This was intended both to inform and to elicit the opinions of young people about the role of genetic science in the modern world.

Resources available:
- Gene Talk – dilemmas: A life for a life? (saviour siblings); Testing times (obesity), and Guilty or not guilty? (DNA fingerprinting)
- Gene Dreams – activity to encourage students to write news articles about future ‘breakthrough applications’ of DNA technology’

Meet the Mighty Gene Machine

A lively drama and discussion based project designed to raise awareness of the ethical implications raised by advances in medical genetics.

Resources include:
- Script
- CPD Resources
- Meet the Gene Machine Evaluation Resources
- Meet the Gene Machine Newsletter

National Centre for Biotechnology Education (NCBE)

The NCBE develops and supplies schools and colleges with innovative equipment and materials, and also runs a number of CPD courses.

- DNA Models

- Educational Resources

SciCast

Planet SciCast encourages people of all ages to make mini movies about science through:

- training on how to make mini movies of science demonstrations
- a big UK wide competition encouraging people to make mini movies and to send them in to the Planet SciCast website
- a web resource of all movies and the written up activities and experiments
- a discussion about who’s job it is to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers with entertaining science related material.

For examples of DNA-based movies go to:
- Profiling
- Mitosis
- Reebops

Stem cell stories: science and ethics on screen

Four films produced by the European Consortium for Stem Cell Research (EuroStemCell) looking at different aspects of stem cell research, and aimed at 14yrs+.