Do you want to know a secret?

Students work in groups to explore the issues surrounding genetic testing, deciding whether or not to open a ‘secret box’

Students receive a sealed secret box, that contains a chance card. Opening the box represents taking a genetic test.

Working in research groups to explore the issues surrounding genetic testing, students have to make an informed choice about whether or not to open their box at the end of the activity.

This engaging activity will:

Help students to understand the scientific and ethical issues involved in genetic testing.
Encourage students to critically evaluate arguments for and against genetic testing.
Provide students with the opportunity to express informed opinions on scientific issues.

Using the activity

Download the teachers' notes. These explain how to run the activity and suggest questions you can use with students of all abilities to get them thinking and talking about the implications of genetics testing.

Print off the template and make-up the boxes, enough for one per group.

Use the background science to help you prepare for questions that students might ask about the science and technology underpinning genetic testing.

Curriculum links

This activity is relevant to the following areas of the QCA (2007) programmes of study for England and Wales, and equivalent curricula in Scotland and Northern Ireland:

KS4 Science: 4 a–b; 5 c, e

KS3/KS4 Citizenship: 1.1 a; 2.1 b–d; 2.2 a–c; 2.3 b–d; 4 a–e

KS3/KS4: Personal, Learning & Thinking Skills (PLTS)