Explain the advantages, disadvantages, and uses of molecular diagnostics.
DefinitionExplanation may include the following concepts:
- Advantages of molecular diagnostics such as
- the ability to detect diseases difficult to identify by traditional methodology
- rapid diagnoses
- more sensitive test methodology
- requirement of a minute sample (especially important in tuberculosis, hepatitis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and certain other cases)
- use in paternity and forensic testing.
- Disadvantages of molecular diagnostics such as
- relatively high cost
- higher level of technician training than is needed for traditional diagnostics.
- How has molecular diagnostic testing become important in the diagnosis of leukemia?
- What is meant by a genetic fingerprint? What is the relationship between the "genetic fingerprint" and molecular diagnosis?
- Why is rapid diagnosis through molecular testing important?
Related Standards of Learning
The student will read, interpret, analyze, and evaluate a variety of nonfiction texts.
- Use critical thinking to generate and respond logically to literal, inferential, and evaluative questions about the text(s).
- Identify and synthesize resources to make decisions, complete tasks, and solve specific problems.
- Analyze multiple texts addressing the same topic to determine how authors reach similar or different conclusions.
- Recognize and analyze use of ambiguity, contradiction, paradox, irony, overstatement, and understatement in text.
- Analyze false premises claims, counterclaims, and other evidence in persuasive writing.
History and Social Science
The student will demonstrate skills for historical thinking, geographical analysis, economic decision making, and responsible citizenship by
- planning inquiries by synthesizing information from diverse primary and secondary sources;
- analyzing how political and economic trends influence public policy, using demographic information and other data sources;
- comparing and contrasting historical, cultural, economic, and political perspectives;
- evaluating critically the quality, accuracy, and validity of information to determine misconceptions, fact and opinion, and bias;
- constructing informed, analytic arguments using evidence from multiple sources to introduce and support substantive and significant claims;
- explaining how cause-and-effect relationships impact political and economic events;
- taking knowledgeable, constructive action, individually and collaboratively, to address school, community, local, state, national, and global issues;
- using a decision-making model to analyze the costs and benefits of a specific choice, considering incentives and possible consequences;
- applying civic virtues and democratic principles to make collaborative decisions; and
- communicating conclusions orally and in writing to a wide range of audiences, using evidence from multiple sources and citing specific sources.