Genomics Resources
Research in a genomics lab (Bill Oxford, iStockphoto)
Research in a genomics lab (Bill Oxford, iStockphoto)
How does this align with my curriculum?
Curriculum Alignment
Resource page including articles and career profiles related to genomics.
Genomics is a field of biology that explores the genome of organisms. A genome is the full set of instructions needed to create an organism. The instructions are stored in each organism's DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Genomics explores not only the DNA, but also how a genome interacts with its environment - from the cellular level up to the organism level.
Genome researchers in Canada are studying everything from human health to how insects like the mountain pine beetle are destroying forests. Understanding genomics is central to addressing many of the challenges the world faces today, including those in health, our food supply and even climate change.
Here are some Let’s Talk Science resources to help you learn more about genomics:
Let's Talk Genomics Symposium Video
What would you do if you could start coding for the living world? Come up with ways to reverse climate change? Cure Cancer? Get rid of polluting plastics? Feed the world? Welcome to the world of Synthetic Biology, the field of science that involves redesigning organisms for useful purposes by engineering them to have new abilities – live action coding for 21st Century problems.
Explore the frontiers of this new field: What it means, why it matters, and how it is being channeled for the world’s benefit.
Let's Talk Science in partnership with Genome Canada bring you this 2 hour symposium where high school students can learn from experts in genomics, ethics, law, and entrepreneurship to discover how synthetic biology is addressing global problems, and how you can be part of these solutions for our future.
Articles, Backgrounders and Hands-On Activity
Genome Editing
STEM Explained
Medical biotechnology allows scientists to make changes to the genomes of living things. What are the pros and cons of having access to techniques like these?
Why is Henrietta Lacks Important?
STEM Explained
When the cells of Henrietta Lacks were collected by medical researchers after her death in 1951, it changed the future of medicine.
Do You Know What's On Your Plate?
STEM Explained
In 2013, many Europeans learned their beef lasagnas were actually made of horse meat. Learn about food fraud, and how a Canadian invention can help detect it.
Helping Patients through Drug Discovery
STEM Explained
Learn how researchers from Amgen are developing new drugs for cancer.
Should Scientists Clone Extinct Species?
STEM Explained
Cloning makes it possible to bring extinct species back to life. But is that a good idea?
How can I obtain a sample of DNA?
Hands-on Activities
Be a biochemist! Learn how to extract DNA from an onion and find out what DNA looks like.
Careers
Learning about the professionals involved is ideal to establish relations between STEM studies and skills, and the real world. Below are some suggested career profiles to show the variety of careers involved with genomics.
Mahadeo Sukhai
Vice President of Research & International Affairs and Chief Accessibility Officer
See Mahadeo Sukhai's profile
Teaching Resources
- What is genomics?
- In what areas are scientist using genomics?
- What are some examples of genetic diseases?
- What are GMOs (genetically-modified organisms)?
- What are some commonly available GMOs?
- What do you think about GMOs?
- What limitations should scientists respect when it comes to manipulating human genes?
- Have you ever heard of the Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights?
- How do you think government should regulate genomics in regards to food, to animals, to humans?
- As a geneticist, what kind of research would you be interested in working on ?
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You can use the KWL: What I Know, What I Want to Know, and What I Learned Learning Strategy to introduce the topic and prepare questions to investigate.
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Initial discussion
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Using the questions above, discuss the topics with students. This can be done in the classroom or online, you can also have an asynchronous discussion by using a collaborative platform in which students can share their thoughts and opinions on the different questions. This option gives more space for introvert expression.
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Additional teaching suggestions for can be found at the bottom of each of the Let's Talk Science articles. Learning strategies can also be used with the suggested videos.
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Think Synthetic Biology Information from Ontario Genomics
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Synthetic Biology Explained Information from BIO
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Life, Reinvented Article by Wired magazine
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How Close Are We to Harnessing Synthetic Life YouTube video by Seeker
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What is Synthetic Biology? YouTube video by the World Science Festival
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The Realities of Gene Editing with CRISPR YouTube video by Nova on PBS
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Synthetic Biology Explained YouTube video by techNyouvids
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BioBits™ Bright Synthetic Biology kits that can be ordered for classrooms
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Amino Labs and MindFuel partnership resources and kits in synthetic biology from synbiobeta
Questions for Discussion with Students
- What is genomics?
- In what areas are scientist using genomics?
- What are some examples of genetic diseases?
- What are GMOs (genetically-modified organisms)?
- What are some commonly available GMOs?
- What do you think about GMOs?
- What limitations should scientists respect when it comes to manipulating human genes?
- Have you ever heard of the Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights?
- How do you think government should regulate genomics in regards to food, to animals, to humans?
- As a geneticist, what kind of research would you be interested in working on ?
Teaching Suggestions
-
You can use the KWL: What I Know, What I Want to Know, and What I Learned Learning Strategy to introduce the topic and prepare questions to investigate.
-
Initial discussion
-
Using the questions above, discuss the topics with students. This can be done in the classroom or online, you can also have an asynchronous discussion by using a collaborative platform in which students can share their thoughts and opinions on the different questions. This option gives more space for introvert expression.
-
-
Additional teaching suggestions for can be found at the bottom of each of the Let's Talk Science articles. Learning strategies can also be used with the suggested videos.
Additional Resources
-
Think Synthetic Biology Information from Ontario Genomics
-
Synthetic Biology Explained Information from BIO
-
Life, Reinvented Article by Wired magazine
-
How Close Are We to Harnessing Synthetic Life YouTube video by Seeker
-
What is Synthetic Biology? YouTube video by the World Science Festival
-
The Realities of Gene Editing with CRISPR YouTube video by Nova on PBS
-
Synthetic Biology Explained YouTube video by techNyouvids
-
BioBits™ Bright Synthetic Biology kits that can be ordered for classrooms
-
Amino Labs and MindFuel partnership resources and kits in synthetic biology from synbiobeta