STEM in Context

Genomics Resources

Research in a genomics lab

Research in a genomics lab (Bill Oxford, iStockphoto)

Research in a genomics lab

Research in a genomics lab (Bill Oxford, iStockphoto)

Biology,  Biotechnology,  Genetics

How does this align with my curriculum?

Resource page including articles and career profiles related to genomics.

What is Genomics? (2010) by Ontario Genomics (6:19 min.).

 

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 

Woman using microscope
Woman using microscope

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.

Click on the link to watch the recording.

 

Articles, Backgrounders and Hands-On Activity

An artist’s interpretation of gene editing technology

Genome Editing

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?

Lacks historical marker in Clover, Virginia

Why is Henrietta Lacks Important?

When the cells of Henrietta Lacks were collected by medical researchers after her death in 1951, it changed the future of medicine.

a boy looks at a hamburger

Do You Know What's On Your Plate?

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.

Researcher with automation equipment

Helping Patients through Drug Discovery

Learn how researchers from Amgen are developing new drugs for cancer.

Cartoon mammoth

Should Scientists Clone Extinct Species?

Cloning makes it possible to bring extinct species back to life. But is that a good idea?

DNA "unzipping"

How can I obtain a sample of DNA?

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.

 

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 ?

  • 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.

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

Related Topics

DNA Structure
Emerging Technology
Genetic Disorders
Genetic Modification
Genomics
Heredity
Research Ethics