Biology Year 12 - Module 8 - Lesson 7

Genetic Diseases — Cystic Fibrosis, PKU, Huntington's Disease, Type 1 Diabetes

Use this worksheet after reading the lesson to practise the key ideas and prove you can meet the success criteria.

Name
Date
Class

1. Key Ideas

A single deleted amino acid in the CFTR protein fills a child's lungs with mucus. An expanded CAG trinucleotide repeat in the HTT gene produces a toxic polyglutamine protein that kills neurons for decades before any symptom appears. Every genetic disease tells the same story: one mutation, one altered protein, cascading consequences throughout the body.

  • The gene, protein, and mechanism of disease for CF, PKU, Huntington's, and Type 1 diabetes
  • Why a single amino acid change can abolish or dramatically alter protein function

2. Success Criteria

By the end, you should be able to:

  • The gene, protein, and mechanism of disease for CF, PKU, Huntington's, and Type 1 diabetes
  • The inheritance pattern (autosomal recessive or dominant) for each disease
  • The specific consequences of each protein dysfunction at the organ/system level

3. Key Terms

Cystic FibrosisGenetic, Why Doesn't Everyone in an Affected Family Have It?
diseasealso a genetic disease, but it behaves very differently — children of an affected parent have a 50% chance of inheriting
inheritance pattern[dominant/recessive] because
mutant genesufficient to cause the disease
protein that aggregates andtoxic to neurons
Explain why genetic diseasesnon-infectious and why 'genetic' does not mean 'inevitable'

4. Activity: Build the Lesson Map

Use the lesson to complete the table. Keep answers brief but specific.

PromptYour answer
Main concept
Important example
Common mistake to avoid
How this links to the next lesson

5. Short Answer Questions

1. Explain this lesson goal in your own words: "The gene, protein, and mechanism of disease for CF, PKU, Huntington's, and Type 1 diabetes". Use one specific example from the lesson.

Band 32 marks

2. Apply this idea to a new example: "The inheritance pattern (autosomal recessive or dominant) for each disease". Show your reasoning clearly.

Band 43 marks

3. Analyse why this idea matters for understanding Genetic Diseases — Cystic Fibrosis, PKU, Huntington's Disease, Type 1 Diabetes: "The specific consequences of each protein dysfunction at the organ/system level".

Band 54 marks

6. Extend: Apply the Idea

Band 5/65 marks

A student gives a memorised answer about Genetic Diseases — Cystic Fibrosis, PKU, Huntington's Disease, Type 1 Diabetes but does not use evidence or reasoning.

Improve the answer by writing a stronger response that uses accurate terminology, a relevant example and a clear explanation.

7. Multiple Choice

1. What is the best first step when answering a question about Genetic Diseases — Cystic Fibrosis, PKU, Huntington's Disease, Type 1 Diabetes?

A. Identify the key concept being tested

B. Write every fact from memory

C. Ignore the command word

D. Skip examples and evidence

2. Which answer would show stronger understanding of Genetic Diseases — Cystic Fibrosis, PKU, Huntington's Disease, Type 1 Diabetes?

A. An answer with accurate terms and reasoning

B. A copied definition only

C. A single-word response

D. An answer with no example

3. What should you do if a question asks you to explain?

A. Link the idea to a reason or cause

B. List unrelated facts

C. Only draw a diagram

D. Write the shortest possible answer

8. Success Criteria Proof

Finish with evidence that you can do each success criterion.

Success criterion 1

Prove that you can: The gene, protein, and mechanism of disease for CF, PKU, Huntington's, and Type 1 diabetes

Band 32 marks
Success criterion 2

Prove that you can: The inheritance pattern (autosomal recessive or dominant) for each disease

Band 43 marks
Success criterion 3

Prove that you can: The specific consequences of each protein dysfunction at the organ/system level

Band 54 marks

One thing I still need help with: