Transcript Lorenzo`s Oil - Colegio Bolivar

Lorenzo's Oil
VIDEOTHERAPY
by
MARIA ALEJANDRA LOURIDO
CALI –COLOMBIA -2005
OBJECTIVES
The students will be able to learn about this particular
rare disease and apply this knowledge to the context they have
learned before related to genetic diseases and its causes and
consequences.
This activity will allow students to observe a real case
of illness and the characteristics of an inherited genetic
disorder.
The students will be observing the critical situation
and effort of the family and of the person who tries
constantly to be alive and achieve a better health based on its
courage and its family support.
The students will be able to learn about ethical issues
and community behaviors in difficult circumstances.
The students will be able to discuss the idea related on
gene therapy and gene testing.
Lorenzo’s Oil
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GRADE LEVEL
This is an interdisciplinary study that
could be used on several levels in
Middle and High School and with a
variety of classes, for example: Biology,
Chemistry, Genetics, Ethics, Health,
Nutrition, and Counseling
SYNOPSIS OF Lorenzo's Oil
MOVIE
This is a drama movie that was based on a true story of a family
trying to save its child's life. The child was diagnosed with ALDa disease which portrayed in the movie is called
adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD). In simple words, this disease is
due to the removal of lipid sheaths (myelin) that surround long
thin cells called neurons. Neurons, of course, allow us to think
and to move (e..g, control our muscles). The disease causes
dysfunction and eventually death.
The story emphasis on the effort the parents of the child make
to find out a cure for the child even the doctors community and
the community itself doesn’t support them. Both parents get
involve in a deep research about the disease and find out a
possible solution to let their child live longer and with a nice life.
These research allows to the doctors to start thinking on having
a Foundation related on the ALD ‘s disease and do research.
TIME SPAN
The time span for the movie would be for two
periods classes to discuss the biological
concepts, and the some samples of genetics
disorders.
Then it would be needed three period classes to
watch the movie and make its discussion.
THEMES
1.
Contradictions about the ethical concepts in Medicine
2. Autonomy in the decisions
3. Perseverance even the situation was against from all
point of view.
4. Genetics issues related on human genome project,
genetic disorders, gene therapy.
INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITIES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Reports: Case studies of other genetic disorders using
research and learn about mutations that causes genetic
disorders.
Worksheet with questions related on the biological concepts.
Make a family health portray with a genetic disorder.
Survey with emphasis on the different opinion of the school
community related on genetic disorders and the better way to
deal with it.
How does genetic variations differ across populations?
Should physicians tell a family about the high risk for
developing an illness because of their genetic makeup when
there is no effective treatment or cure for that disease now?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1.
What is the conflict in this film? Who are the contending characters? How
is the conflict resolved?
2. What was the theme of this film? What were the film makers trying to tell
us? Were they successful? Justify your answer.
3. What makes the family different form everyone else?
4. Did you learn anything from this movie related on biochemistry? What was
it, describe them?
5. Was there something you didn't understand about the movie? What was it?
6. Choose an action performed by one of the characters in the film and
explain why the character took that action. Was it ethical, according to the
situation?
7. Was the family able to think in gene therapy? Why not?
8. How does our knowledge of the human genome help scientists and doctors
make advances in health science and medicine?
9. What does this film show about the difficulties of breaking out of the
paths that your family and community expect you to follow?
10. In this instance, what was the role of the community related with the
family. Was supportive and reasonable?
FOLLOW UP ACTIVITIES
Students will analyze the results of the survey and find about the
different opinions inside the community, and develop a chart with the
information obtained.
Students will be allow to connect this discussion with the Next topic in
class related with gene testing and gene Therapy and in that way start
a new discussion in groups or round tables based on the pro and cons
of gene therapy.
Students will develop a gene’s location in a chromosome map and
develop a pamphlet related on human disorders.
Which is the social,cultural and religious implications with the
development of gene testing related on the individuality?
RESOURCES
Web Sites
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1. http://carbon.cudenver.edu/~bstith/loren.htm
2. http://www.myelin.org/overview.htm
4. http://www.jr2.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/booth/neurol/lorenz.html
6. http://rarediseases.about.com/cs/ald/a/041301.htm
7.http://www.suntimes.com/ebert/ebert_reviews/1993/01/80017.
html
Ethical , legal , and Social Implications: www.nhgri.nih.gov