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The Evolving Genetics of Disease Resistance

By Jennifer M. Dechaine

The Evolving Genetics of Disease Resistance


 

Abstract

This interrupted case study for the flipped classroom applies evolutionary genetics research to human health. Students learn about a naturally occurring, but rare, allele of the CCR5 gene, CCR5-Δ32, which provides resistance to HIV. They use data from primary literature sources to predict and interpret worldwide patterns of CCR5-Δ32 frequency distribution. They then discuss how these allele frequency patterns may have been driven by selection imposed by various diseases or by other evolutionary mechanisms. Next, they test published data using Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium to examine if CCR5-Δ32 also provides genetic resistance to West Nile virus. Finally, they complete a jigsaw discussion of Nature News articles that report on how CCR5 research is being used to develop therapies to treat HIV. Originally written for the evolution portion of a yearlong biology series for undergraduate majors, the case is also appropriate for some non-majors biology courses or, with added complexity, upper-level evolution, genetics, or cell biology courses.

   

Date Posted

01/25/2018

Overview

Objectives

  • Apply real genetics and evolution research to human health.
  • Describe how HIV enters immune cells and how CCR5-Δ32 impedes this process.
  • Predict how selection, driven by disease, will change allele frequencies for one gene (CCR5), and compare these predictions to published results.
  • Test for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and interpret test results as they apply to genetic disease susceptibility.
  • Discuss how CCR5 research is being used to develop therapies to treat HIV.
  • Write research questions.
  • Use prior knowledge to predict results.
  • Draw conclusions from quantitative data in figures and tables.

Keywords

Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium; HWE; selection; CCR5; HIV; resistance; selection; CRISPR

  

Subject Headings

Biology (General)
Biotechnology
Cell Biology
Evolutionary Biology
Genetics / Heredity
Mathematics
Medicine (General)
Molecular Biology
Public Health
Science (General)

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

Undergraduate lower division

  

FORMAT

PDF

   

TOPICAL AREAS

N/A

   

LANGUAGE

English

   

TYPE/METHODS

Flipped, Interrupted, Jig-Saw, Journal Article

 

 

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