GENOMICS LEARNING JOURNEY

DNA & Diseases

Intro Activities & Discussion

INTRO ACTIVITIES

Recommended Grades: 3-8

Total time for Activities: 1 hour

Topics:

Antibody Attack: 30 min

How Soap Fights Germs: 30 min

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Recommended for all activities: access to a class computer to project videos, discussion and activity slides

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ANTIBODY ATTACK ACTIVITY

In your groups, cut out the 5 shapes on the antigens and antibodies handout.

Trace the antigen shapes on the colored paper. You should trace one antigen twice on the same piece of colored paper so you have 2 of the same-colored antigens for a total of 10 antigens!

Trace the antibody shapes on the white cardstock paper. You should trace all 5 antibodies so you have 5 different antibodies to cut out.

Now lay your antibodies and antigens out and let’s talk about them.

ANTIBODY ATTACK DISCUSSION

What are antigens?

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What are antibodies?

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What are phagocytes?

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What are pathogens?

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What is an immune response or immune system?

ANTIBODY ATTACK ACTIVITY

Now try to match the antibodies with the antigens.

• Are the matches always perfect?
• Can an antibody connect to more than one antigen?
• Can an antibody connect to more than one type of antigen?
• What happens as a result of the antigens connecting to the antibodies?

What do you notice when you attach as many antibodies to antigens as you can?

ANTIBODY ATTACK DISCUSSION

This activity is a simple model of our adaptive immune response.

Shows how our body targets and remembers certain pathogens.

How do you think this might be used in treating diseases?

HOW SOAP FIGHTS GERMS DISCUSSION

What does hydrophilic mean?

What does hydrophobic mean?

What are some special characteristics of soap?

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HOW SOAP FIGHTS GERMS ACTIVITY

• Divide into small groups of 2-3
• Pick up your supplies
• Let’s watch video together and try it out in our groups

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What are other examples of hydrophilic and hydrophobic substances in your daily life?