Add to List

Offering a fresh approach to the traditional karyotyping activity, Disorder Detectives is sure to engage your students and pique their interest in the impact of chromosome disorders on human disease. Taking on the role of cytogeneticists, students diagnose the diseases of 15 different patients using fully reusable materials, while incorporating real clinical symptoms. Students deal with a variety of abnormalities resulting from nondisjunction, deletion, inversion, and translocation.

Product Details
The Disorder Detectives Classroom Kit offers a fresh and engaging approach to teaching karyotyping by challenging students to take on the role of cytogeneticists and diagnose the diseases of 15 unique patients. Using fully reusable materials, students work on case studies by completing patient karyotypes with chromosome decals—no more cutting out chromosomes! They gain exposure to a wide range of chromosome anomalies and normal karyotype spreads during the investigation. Students deal with a variety of chromosome abnormalities resulting from nondisjunction, deletion, inversion, and translocation. Kit includes one set of reusable decals. Additional decals are sold separately (item #214801). Kit is designed for 30 students working pairs.

Time Requirement
Two to three 60-minute class periods.

Digital Resources
Includes 1-year access to digital resources that include a teacher’s manual, student guide, and more.

Learning Objectives

• Describe the anatomy of a human chromosome.
• Describe how a karyotype is created and how it is used to diagnose chromosomal disorders.
• Construct a simulated karyotype.
• Diagnose patient disorders on the basis of karyotype analysis.
• Relate chromosomal abnormalities to clinical symptoms.
• Identify types of chromosomal changes resulting from nondisjunction, deletion, inversion, and translocation.

Prerequisite Knowledge and Skills
Students should have some understanding of meiosis and chromosome structure.