Web Lesson: Organelle Dysfunction
Introduction:
Do you play an instrument in a band, compete on a sports team, or are part of another group? On a team, every member contributes to the success, or failure, of the group. The same is true of our cells. Each part of our cells, including organelles, structural components, and proteins, must function properly in order to survive and maintain health. What happens if one part of a cell doesn't function properly? The whole cell malfunctions and problems result. The problems can be minor or can lead to life-threatening diseases.
Task:
Imagine that you are a doctor and two young parents bring their sick child, Maria, to you.
“We don’t know what’s wrong with her,” her mother tells you. “She’s not gaining weight and she wheezes all the time.”
Her father adds, “It is so strange — her skin almost tastes salty when we kiss her. Can that have something to do with her sickness?”
Explore the symptoms, causes, and treatments for three diseases: Tay-Sachs disease, Friedreich's ataxia, and cystic fibrosis. Diagnose Maria based on her symptoms and then explain the disease to her parents.
Resources:
Use the web sites below to learn about the cellular basis for the three diseases, Tay-Sachs, Friedreich's ataxia, and cystic fibrosis. Answer the questions below.
Tay-Sachs
http://www.ygyh.org/tay/cause.htm
http://www.ntsad.org/S02/S02tay_sachs.htm
http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/4439_1227.asp
Freidreich’s Ataxia
http://www.mda.org/publications/fa-fried-qa.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?tool=bookshelf&call=bv.View..ShowSection&searchterm=mitochondria&rid=gnd.section.205
Cystic Fibrosis
http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/lungs/cf.html
http://resources.schoolscience.co.uk/MRC/3/page3.html
http://www.cff.org/AboutCF/
Questions and Responses: Type your answers below each question. The answers must be in bold print. Print out the questions and answers to Lab 1.
Tay-Sachs
1. What is Tay-Sachs disease?
2. What is the cause of Tay-Sachs? Be specific.
3. What parts of the body are affected by Tay-Sachs?
4. What part of the cell is affected by Tay-Sachs? How does this affect nerve cells and nervous system?
5. What are the symptoms of Tay-Sachs?
6. Explain how someone could get Tay-Sachs?
7. Are there any treatments for Tay-Sachs?
8. How many people does Tay-Sachs affect?
Freidreich’s Ataxia
9. What is Freidreich’s Ataxia?
10. What is the cause of Freidreich’s Ataxia? What role does this do in the cell? Be specific.
11. What parts of the body are affected by Freidreich’s Ataxia?
12. What part of the cell is affected by Freidreich’s Ataxia?
13. What are the symptoms of Freidreich’s Ataxia?
14. Explain how someone could get Freidreich’s Ataxia?
15. Are there any treatments for Freidreich’s Ataxia?
16. How many people does Freidreich’s Ataxia affect?
Cystic Fibrosis
17. What is Cystic Fibrosis?
18. What is the cause of Cystic Fibrosis? Be specific.
19. What parts of the body are affected by Cystic Fibrosis?
20. What part of the cell is affected by Cystic Fibrosis? How affect does this have on a person’s body?
21. What are the symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis?
22. Explain how someone could get Cystic Fibrosis?
23. Are there any treatments for Cystic Fibrosis?
24. How many people does Cystic Fibrosis affect?
Maria
25. Maria's symptoms are 1) wheezing, 2) problems gaining weight, and 3) salty skin. What disease do you think Maria suffers from? Why?
26. How does the cellular basis of the disease Maria suffers from differ from the other two diseases?