science experiment for high school students..........
Answers
Hello guys Namaste,
PREREQUISITES
Basic understanding of what genes, DNA, and proteins are.
MATERIAL AVAILABILITY
After 23andMe receives your sample, your results should be ready in 6-8 weeks. Alternatively, you can do this science project using a readily available free demo account on 23andMe.
COST
Very High (over $150)
SAFETY
No issues
*Note: This is an abbreviated Project Idea, without notes to start your background research, a specific list of materials, or a procedure for how to do the experiment. You can identify abbreviated Project Ideas by the asterisk at the end of the title. If you want a Project Idea with full instructions, please pick one without an asterisk.
Abstract
Have you ever known someone who had a bad reaction to a prescription drug? Although pharmaceutical companies test new drugs on a large number of people to make sure the drug works the way it is supposed to, often a small percentage of people respond differently to the drug. A person's genetics plays a large role in determining his or her response to a given drug. Our genes are made up of hundreds to millions of nucleotides of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), the genetic code. If just a single nucleotide of DNA has a mutation (change in the DNA sequence), a person might respond differently to a drug. A mutation in one DNA nucleotide is called an SNP, for single-nucleotide polymorphism. When pharmaceutical companies test new drugs on people, they do a genetic screening of known SNPs sprinkled across their genomes (all of the DNA in an organism) to see if people who respond differently to the drug have an SNP, or multiple SNPs, that are not present in the genetics of the people who respond normally. Once pharmaceutical companies identify SNPs that are associated with an abnormal response to the drug, doctors can screen their patients ahead of time to find out how they will respond to a given drug. This rapidly growing medical field is called pharmacogenomics. In this science project, you will investigate how your own genetics may affect your response to different prescription drugs.
23andMe is a company that can sequence your own personal SNPs and predict your response to drugs, based on your SNP profile. There are many other companies that offer similar genetics sequencing services, such as Illumina, PacBio, and deCODE. If you use 23andMe, after you have received your genetics results, under the "My Health" section, click on the "Drug Response" link. Have you, or someone closely related to you, ever taken one of the listed drugs and experienced the predicted response? For any given drug sensitivity test listed, you can click on its name and then the "Technical Report" tab to read about the specific SNPs you have.
How can a little mutation be associated with such a big response? You can investigate how your SNP mutations may be causing your predicted drug response by reading another Science Buddies Project Idea, Drugs and Genetics, and developing your own experimental procedure based on it. Next time you visit your doctor, you can show off your detailed knowledge of how drugs affect your body and possibly prevent a bad experience by telling your doctor which drugs you will probably react poorly to!