Murder by HIV? Undergraduate Edition
Author(s)
http://sciencecases.lib.buffalo.edu/collection/detail.html?case_id=673&id=673Department of Biological Sciences
Thompson Rivers University
ncheeptham@tru.ca
Department of Biology
Georgia Southern University
lregassa@georgiasouthern.edu
Department of Biology
New Mexico State University
mshuster@nmsu.edu
Abstract
This case study gives students an opportunity to draw a conclusion about an actual crime that was prosecuted in Louisiana. A physician was accused of intentionally infecting his ex-girlfriend with HIV-tainted blood drawn from a patient in his practice. The scientific investigation uses bioinformatics tools and relies on the ability to interpret phylogenetic trees. Students develop hypotheses about the crime, then use sequences and online tools to generate a phylogenetic tree to test the hypotheses and render a verdict. The authors have designed and implemented three parallel cases - one for Grades 5-8, one for Grades 9-12, and one for upper-division undergraduates, specifically for a course in molecular evolution. This is the undergraduate version.
Objectives
- Demonstrate a conceptual understanding of molecular evolution via a relevant case study in virology.
- Use available bioinformatics tools.
- Compare sequences and construct phylogenetic trees.
- Demonstrate critical thinking and analytical skills.
- Address societal issues using practical application of skills.
Keywords
Phylogenetic tree; nucleotide sequences; human immunodeficiency virus; HIV; viral life cycles; mutation rates; reverse transcriptase sequences; murder; crime; criminal investigation; forensics; LouisianaEducational Level
Undergraduate lower division, Undergraduate upper divisionFormat
PDFType Methods
Analysis (Issues), Directed, DiscussionLanguage
EnglishSubject Headings
Biology (General) Molecular Biology Bioinformatics Forensic Science
Date Posted
1/29/2013Teaching Notes
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