ASHG High School Workshop Agenda - American Society of Human ...

12:55-1:40 pm 4 th Breakout
• Complex Traits, Room xxx
Ron Davidson, McMaster University, Ontario
Loraine Oman-Ganes, RBC Life Insurance Company
• Family History, Room xxx
Howard Levy, Johns Hopkins; Siobhan Dolan, Albert Einstein;
Dawn DeLozier, UCSF; Emily Edelman, NCHPEG
• Epigenetics, Room xxx
Louisa Stark, Genetic Science Learning Center, Utah
• Thinking about Genetic Risk, Room xxx
Andrew Faucett, Geisinger Health System Genomic Medicine Institute
Ambroise Wonkam, University of Cape Town, South Africa
1:50-2:30 pm Plenary Session
The Spirit of Difference
Rick Guidotti, Positive Exposure
Breakout Session Descriptions
Basic- These sessions will be appropriate for students at any level of genetics knowledge.
Thinking about Genetic Risk
Each of us possesses a unique genome, and the cost of sequencing those genomes continues to decline. As
sequencing becomes ever more affordable, what challenges and opportunities will our DNA sequence present
What risks might be revealed In this session, students will explore some of the information available through
genetic testing, including information provided to consumers through commercial sequencing services.
Family History
Did grandfather Joe have Alzheimer’s disease If so, does that mean that I’m at risk of getting the disease too In
this session, students will explore the power of family history information. They will construct pedigrees, follow
the inheritance of several different types of traits, and try to make predictions based on their evidence.
DNA Forensics
Most people are more genetically alike than different, with estimates that up to 99.9% of human DNA sequences
are exactly the same for all people on Earth. But we also know that each one of us has a unique genome. Find out
how forensic detectives tease out that 1/10 th of 1% difference to identify individuals. Students will discover the
power and pitfalls of DNA identification analysis as they work as analysts, medical examiners, and law officers,
using information from DNA profiles to piece together crucial evidence that may – or may not – “make their
case”.
Complex Traits
Widow’s peaks, tongue rolling, and earlobe attachment are familiar examples of genetic traits, but even these
“simple” Mendelian traits may have more complex inheritance than first realized. If that’s the case, where does
that leave our understanding of quantitative traits, such as height, intelligence, and cholesterol level In this
session, students will explore complex human traits and how modern genomics is helping us understand their
genetic and environmental causes.
Advanced- These sessions will assume more prior genetics knowledge by students.
Newborn Screening