Take a Trip to the Biobank (How-To-Do-It‪)‬

Understanding human genetics is an important part of the standards-based science curriculum. In our experience, however, the topic is a difficult one for many students. In this lesson, students examine issues, both pro and con, surrounding genetic databanks and population genetics studies. They then investigate methods of collecting human genome information and evaluate Web sites of various biobanks. Next, they work in groups to create a biobank of their own, which they write about and illustrate. We use this activity with high school general biology students. It would also be appropriate for AP biology and freshman college biology courses. The suggested time for this activity is three 50-minute laboratory periods. Alternatively, the Web searches may be assigned as homework. Creation and presentation of student biobanks can then be completed in two subsequent 50-minute periods. The purpose of the activity is to promote both content mastery and critical thinking through self-discovery. In the process, students will: