SCENARIO

This is a role-playing tool to stimulate learning and spark students' curiosity about the different aspects of genomics. It should promote discussion, rather than provide all the answers – which would be impossible anyway.

Thought-Provoking Questions

• What are the advantages of genetic testing? (Find better cures; prevention; act with full knowledge of the facts, e.g. in the case of genetic testing for lactic acidosis; alleviate fears of transmitting a genetic disease; lower healthcare costs)
   
• Is your privacy at risk? If you carry the gene for a genetic disease, who do you feel should have access to your medical file? (You alone and your family, your employer, your doctor, your insurance company, etc.)
   
• Do you think that either refusing to undergo genetic testing or having a positive result of such a test could lead to discrimination? (Possibility of the incorrect use or abuse of genetic information; risk of discrimination; exclusion from society)
   
• If genetic testing was available for a person's pre-disposition to lung cancer, would you want to take it?
   
• Can you think of a disease that you would not want to know about, even if genetic testing were available? (Psychological effects if no treatment is available, e.g. Alzheimer's; proper counselling prior to testing)
   
• Does society benefit from the circulation of private information? (Scientific and medical advances; medicolegal purposes, e.g. DNA banks for helping to solve crimes)

For more information on genomics, check out our partner's site:

Genome Canada
www.genomecanada.ca