A curriculum for environmental genetics education

Citation
Se. Vandale et E. Bingham, A curriculum for environmental genetics education, AM J PREV M, 19(3), 2000, pp. 197-201
Citations number
58
Categorie Soggetti
Envirnomentale Medicine & Public Health
Journal title
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
ISSN journal
07493797 → ACNP
Volume
19
Issue
3
Year of publication
2000
Pages
197 - 201
Database
ISI
SICI code
0749-3797(200010)19:3<197:ACFEGE>2.0.ZU;2-8
Abstract
Introductions: Environmental genetics is a scientific area concerned with i nteractions between genes and the environment. Progress in this field, coup led with the growth in genetic testing, has great potential for improving h uman health. There are also ethical, legal, and social concerns surrounding advances in environmental genetics and genetic testing. Because genetic in formation is rapidly increasing in our society, the public needs to learn m ore about scientific progress and policy issues in these areas. Objective: To describe a curriculum for the public on environmental genetic s and genetic testing. Program: In 1998, the Department of Environmental Health (Center for Enviro nmental Genetics), University of Cincinnati, began an outreach project for the public called Learning Exchange for Genetic and Environmental Disease S olutions (LEGENDS). The project fosters awareness and understanding of envi ronmental genetics and genetic testing with discussion of related policy is sues. The curriculum includes brief lectures and discussions based on thema tic modules and a set of inter-active exercises to be conducted in small gr oups. More than 100 persons have attended instructional sessions sponsored by LEGENDS at the time of this writing. Significance: The curriculum appears to be a potentially useful resource fo r educating the public about environmental genetics, genetic testing, and r elated policy issues. This project has implications for other organizations working to further genetics education.