The Hill Card

Jinnie Garrett - Faculty

176453328971892364738736198364818…..AATGCCYNNNAATCGHT-1/HT-6 CH: QR9/Q5 IQ: 1124/1125, cdA/cdA M: 70/78RB: 12/18 AA: gdD/gdB CR: B/OC-2, SC-8, CC-3, LC-5, Other-4___________________________________________________________

IC for DMD

+ XC. M:85:95, RbA/RbA

Hamilton College, Clinton, NY. 2011

Genetic information listed on your Hill Card includes:

HT: Predisposition to hypertension. Normal alleles – HT-1, 3, 4, 7, Elevated risk – HT-2, 6, 8, Highly elevated – HT-5.

M: Memory. Predicted age of short term memory decline/expected age of dementia onset.

CR: Cancer risk. B/O – breast/ovarian, P – prostate, S – skin, C – colon, L – lung, On scale 1 (very low) – 10 (almost certain)

Additional information IC –identified carrier for recessive alleles for DMD (Duschenne Muscular Dystrophy), CS (cystic fibrosis),

TS (Tay-Sach’s), FX (fragile X syndrome) +XC – additional chromosome added at pre-implantation stage. If you do not have an XC be aware

these were available to your parents at the time of your conception. RbA= retinoblastoma – tumor suppressor gene.BRCA1, BRCA2, = normal copies of the breast cancer genesAUD7 = Auditory transmitter signaling – highly increased likelihood of perfect pitch.MSC – Myostatin-suppressing variant C – increased aerobic capacity for long distances/times.MSD - Myostatin-suppressing variant D – increased muscle capacity for strength. Bear in mind that all genetic identities are really statistical risk factors that are impacted by the person’s

environment and lifestyle.

Your final paper must be a response to the genetic identity given to you on your “Hill Card” and you must choose a particular position to argue. Papers that just discuss the topic without taking a position will be seriously penalized.

There are several possible approaches to choose from – two examples• Some of you have additional chromosomes that provide copies of

genes that should decrease your predicted risk of undesirable events (cancer, early memory loss). Are you glad that your parents chose these modifications? Do you think such genetic enhancements should be available to the general population?

• Those of you who have genomes that have not been modified to decrease your risk may discuss whether you would want to have been modified. Why/ why not?

• *In your paper, you must use at least 6 of the assigned course readings, which must include both Watson and McKibben