What is Eric Lander’s analogy for the DNA sequence of the entire human genome?
a. a needle in a haystack
b. an automated assembly line
c. an airplane’s parts list
d. a phone book
2) According to the film, what interesting information has been discovered about the majority of our DNA?
a. It does not code for our genes and appears to be independent and jumping around in the genome.
b. It codes for genes from our recent relatives.
c. It is more closely related to bacterial DNA than DNA found in plants and fungi.
d. It codes for all of our genes, but many copies exist.
3) True or False: the “race” to sequence the human genome was declared a tie.
a. True
b. False
4) A baby in the film, Hayden, has Tay Sachs disease – a disease that destroys brain cells of developing
babies. Children with this disease are born relatively normal, but their health rapidly degenerates, the
child rarely living past 7 years. According to the film, how can knowledge of DNA sequences help
families with children like Hayden?
a. Genetically modified foods can correct the nutritional deficiency.
b. Children with the disease can be diagnosed early and potentially cured.
c. Potential parents can be tested for the probability of their passing the disease on to their children -
before they have children.
d. Replacement genes can be delivered to Tay Sachs children via gene therapy.
5) In the space below, draw the pedigrees for Tim Lord and his twin brother Charlie’s families, showing the
inheritance of the Tay Sach’s disease (use darkened symbols for the occurrence of the disease). Show the
most probable genotypes for the 4 parents as well as their 3 children (Hayden, Taylor & Cameron).
What is the probability of both couples giving birth to a baby with Tay Sachs?
6) A baby in the film, Riley, has Cystic Fibrosis, a disease that is caused by a single nucleotide substitution.
What protein is affected by this mutation?
a. It is a protein that controls the cell cycle, like cyclin.
b. It is involved in transport of oxygen in the blood.
c. It is a salt (chloride) channel.
d. It is caused by the over-production of the protein cystin which leads to fibroid cysts
7) Compare and contrast Craig Ventor’s work in genome sequencing to that of Eric Lander.
8) Discuss the ethical questions that arise from the Iceland databases of ancestry and DNA sequences. You
should discuss at least 2 separate issues (there are more).