Course title
HCTPre-requisite
HCT94YHN Principles of the Biomedical Sciences, HCT941YHN Human Body Systems Course, HCT942YHN Medical InterventionsCourse description
In the final course of the PLTW Biomedical Science sequence; students build on the knowledge and skills gained from previous courses to design innovative solutions for the most pressing health challenges of the 21st century. Students address topics ranging from public health and biomedical engineering to clinical medicine and physiology. They have the opportunity to work on an independent design project with a mentor or advisor from a university; medical facility; or research institution.
Biomedical Innovation is divided into eight real world problems students research; investigate; and create through various labs to develop a solution.
Problem #1: Emergency Room
Congratulations! You have been hired as a member of an elite group of investigators dedicated to designing unique and innovative solutions to the health challenges of this century. Use the available resources in your mission file to complete each mission you are assigned. In this first mission; you will investigate health care delivery and propose innovations in clinical medicine.
Traditional Labs and Activities included in Problem 1.
Task
Type list of Top 5 health-related challenges of the 21st century and associated solutions (Activity 1.1.1 Mission: Innovation)
Complete Research and Documentation Scavenger Hunt (Activity 1.1.2 Research and Documentation)
Compile a Tip Sheet for Producing Powerful and Effective Presentations (Activity 1.1.3 Effective Presentations)
Design two presentation slides for an emergency room article and present these slides to the class (Activity 1.1.3 Effective Presentations)
Produce Gantt chart for ER problem (Problem 1.1.4 Emergency!)
Compile a complete Emergency Care and Treatment Admission Form for a fictional patient (Problem 1.1.4 Emergency!)
Present Final Problem Solution to class (Problem 1.1.4 Emergency!)
Problem #2: Exploring Human Physiology
Alex Marion; a 55-year-old male; has been suffering from mysterious symptoms for the last ten years. He has experienced intermittent attacks of severe abdominal pain accompanied by a high fever and hypertension that sometimes last for weeks at a time. Doctors removed both his appendix and gallbladder in an attempt to halt the pain; but to no avail. For the last five years; Alex has also noticed that he is plagued by periods of confusion; loss of coordination; and muscles spasms in his arms and legs. He was therefore referred to a neurologist. He underwent countless tests; including EKGs; EMGs; CT scans; MRI scans; and numerous exploratory surgeries; but no cause was found for his mystery symptoms. Finally; Alex was referred to a specialist who looked at his medical history and ran a variety of blood tests. The doctor finally diagnosed Alex with Acute Intermittent Porphyria (AIP); a genetic disorder caused by a deficiency of the enzyme porphobilinogen deaminase (PBGD). PBGD is involved in the production of heme; a molecule responsible for carrying oxygen in red blood cells.
Your mission is to learn more about the research process in order to design; conduct; and analyze an experimental study. You will answer a question relating to one or multiple body systems that you are interested in studying. Work with your team to investigate a question that will potentially provide information to further advance the medical community.
Traditional Labs and Activities included in Problem 2.
Task
Complete brief study design (Project 2.1.1 Scientific Research)
Present short PowerPoint presentation to “sell” your product or medical intervention to your classmates using at least three statistical fallacies (Activity 2.1.2 Science and the Media)
Complete statistical analysis for your assigned study (Activity 2.1.3 Making Results Meaningful)
Complete experimental design for your physiology experiment (Problem 2.1.4 Investigating Human Physiology)
• Available sensors/monitors include:
o EKG sensor
o Hand-grip heart rate monitor
o Blood pressure sensor
o Sphygmomanometer
o Stethoscopes
o Hand-held Doppler monitor
o Stainless steel temperature probe
o Carbon dioxide sensor
o Oxygen sensor
o Hand dynamometer
o Accelerometer; 5g
o Spirometer
o Respiration belt
o Surface temperature monitor
o Gas pressure sensor
o Goniometer
• Available Logger Pro programs include:
o Blood Pressure
o EKG
o Heart Rate
o Calorimetry
o Lactase
o Lung Capacity
o Muscle Function
o Reflexes
o Muscle Fatigue
o Oxygen Capture
o Donder’s Reaction Time Experiments
o Biofeedback (i.e.; heart rate; skin surface temp; respiration rate)
o Can You Hear Me Now (i.e.; audiogram)
Complete poster presentation (Problem 2.1.4 Investigating Human Physiology)
Problem #3: Design of a Medical Innovation:
In HBS you were introduced to John Jones; a man in his fifties who had always been relatively healthy; eaten well; and exercised a couple of times a week. Unfortunately; he has also been a one pack-a-day smoker on and off for the past thirty years. Two years ago he started to notice cramping in his right calf when he exercised. John found that the pain went away once he stopped and rested; but he felt that something more serious was wrong. He described a frequent tingling in his leg; almost as though his leg was falling asleep. Concerned; John went to see his doctor. Because of John’s symptoms; his doctor felt that he was at risk for peripheral artery disease (PAD). You learned that PAD is a condition where the arteries in the legs are narrowed or almost entirely blocked by the accumulation of plaque; preventing the legs from receiving enough blood or oxygen.
How was John’s life saved from medical inventions and innovations? Modern medicine makes major advancements every day; extending and improving the quality of life. Your mission is to work through the design process to design a biomedical innovation that can help improve or save lives and present a plan for how the product will be marketed.
Traditional Labs and Activities included in Problem 2.
Complete Activity 3.1.2 Student Response Sheet. (Activity 3.1.2 Gathering the Facts)
Write design brief for the proposed product (Problem 3.1.3 Design Innovations)
Complete model; prototype; or detailed schematic of your product. (Problem 3.1.3 Design Innovations)
Present a “sales pitch” presentation to sell your product to a panel of potential investors. (Problem 3.1.3 Design Innovations)
Problem #4: Environmental Health
Tabitha Wade; a family physician; has contacted your team for help. Over the past week; members of the Williams family have visited her medical office. The first patient was Juanita Williams; a 44-year old mother of two. She had stomach cramps and terrible nausea. Within the next four days; the other three members of the family visited the doctor; all complaining of severe stomach cramps; nausea; and diarrhea. The affected family members ranged in age from 15 years old to 47 years old. The 15-year-old daughter; Maria; was even admitted to the hospital because she was severely dehydrated from the diarrhea.
Our environment affects our health. Pollution in the air we breathe; water we drink; and/or soil where we grow our food can contribute to health problems. Your team’s mission is to investigate various environmental health hazards. You will work in teams to determine what is causing the symptoms and illness in the case study; perform water tests; explore the dose-response relationship of a toxin; investigate hazards in your local environment; create an environmental health profile of your community; and outline a plan to solve a local environmental health problem .
Traditional Labs and Activities in Problem #4:
Complete a map showcasing the environmental concerns identified in the Williams family case.
Complete a 24 hour log of potentially hazardous substance exposures.
Write a conclusion statement regarding the contamination of the Williams family well water sample and include any supporting evidence.
• Edvotek Kit #951 Water Quality Testing I: Detection of Coliforms and E. coli using Colorimetric Reagents
• Edvotek #953 Water Quality Testing III: Multiplex PCR Analysis for Water Contaminants
• Lab-Aids Qualitative Introduction to Water Pollution Kit 19
Research and record information for the human health effects of various water contaminants.
Graph the dose response curve and corresponding analysis.
Complete the Environmental Health Community Profile.
Present the Environmental Health Community Profile Action Plan.
Problem #5: Public Health; Two scenarios provided
You are facing a public health emergency. As an epidemiologist from the state’s health department; it is your job to investigate this cluster of cases. Your mission is to evaluate patient diagnostic test results to identify the mystery illness; assess evidence to deduce the source of the illness; design and analyze an epidemiological study to test the proposed source; and plan control and prevention efforts to limit future cases of the mystery illness. You will use the practical experience you have gained tracking a mystery illness as you identify a local; national; or global public health crisis and write a mini-grant proposal; outlining an intervention plan.
Traditional Labs and Activities in Problem #5:
Complete Investigative Findings handout (Project 5.1.1 Disease Detectives)
• Research
Summarize your investigation and your findings in a MMWR entry (Project 5.1.1 Disease Detectives)
• Research
Complete Article Organizer (Activity 5.1.2 Public Health in the News)
Complete public health grant proposal (Problem 5.1.3 Combating a Public Health Issue)
Present public health grant proposal (Problem 5.1.3 Combating a Public Health Issue)
Problem #6: Molecular Biology in Action (optional)
For most kids; bumps and scrapes are a part of growing up. But for Leo Marquette; age 7; the smallest injury could be life-threatening. Leo has hemophilia A; a rare genetic disorder that prevents his blood from clotting properly. Leo is deficient in clotting factor VIII; a protein that helps platelets adhere to one another and plug sites of injury. Consequently; even a minor cut or bump can cause massive external and internal bleeding. Luckily Leo’s condition can be kept under control with replacement therapy; periodic infusions of clotting factor VIII into his bloodstream.
Your mission is to design and work through a protocol to construct and clone recombinant DNA. You will perform DNA ligation; linking DNA from two sources; and facilitate transformation of this recombinant DNA into bacterial cells. You will be responsible for gauging the success of your ligation through growth of bacteria containing the recombinant DNA and through restriction analysis of the completed plasmid. You may be asked to take your work one step further as you purify the plasmid; sequence and analyze gene data; and submit your work to GenBank; the NIH genetic sequence database; for publication.
As you work through either laboratory project; you will learn new laboratory skills; practice laboratory troubleshooting techniques; and review proper protocol for research notebook documentation.
Traditional labs and Activities in Problem #6:
Complete the restriction enzyme problems (Activity 6.1.1 Restriction Enzyme Challenge)
Complete the Lab Module Organizer (Project 6.1.2 OR Problem 6.1.3)
Analyze gel results and write a conclusion for the experiment (Project 6.1.2 Construction and Cloning of Recombinant DNA)
NOTE: Not required if completing Problem 6.1.3.
Write a final conclusion for the entire experiment (Problem 6.1.3 Cloning and Sequencing)
NOTE: Not required if completing Project 6.1.2
Problem #7: Forensics
On a cool autumn day in New England; Terry took a short brisk walk during her lunch break. She heard a loud crashing noise coming from her neighbor’s backyard. She ran toward the place where the noise came from and found her 63-year-old neighbor; Ray; lying face down in a pool of blood on the patio. There appeared to be broken pieces of clay everywhere and the back door to the house was ajar. Terry quickly used her cell phone to call 911. Within minutes the local police and emergency medical technicians arrived at the scene. The coroner and crime scene investigators were called to the scene. Terry explained to the police that she had just spoken to Ray last night and that he was feeling well. He was still swimming 20 laps every morning at the community pool and was looking forward to a visit from his grandchildren. Upon arrival the crime scene; investigators examined Ray’s home and back yard. The coroner pronounced Ray as dead; removed the body; and brought it to the medical examiner’s office where an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.
You are facing a mysterious death. As a forensic pathologist; it is your job to investigate this case. Your mission is to examine the fetal pig using the same protocol as a human autopsy; including examination of the tissues; organs; systems; and body fluids; and to note any abnormalities. You will then design a fictional death and showcase the clues left behind in the body to tell the story of how the person died. You will craft your story with an autopsy report; medical history forms; and other documents of your choosing. Another group will be tasked with solving the mystery you create.
Traditional Labs and Activities Problem 7:
Complete Autopsy Report (Activity 7.1.1 Forensic Autopsy)
• CarolinaTM Forensic Dissection Kit
Complete Patient Autopsy Report (Problem 7.1.2 Determining Cause of Death)
• Use cause of death card to research clues to match situation
Complete Answer Key (Problem 7.1.2 Determining Cause of Death)
Problem #8: Independent Project
In this eighth mission; you or your team have the opportunity to apply your skills and knowledge to learn more about a topic that is of interest to you. You may choose to design and execute experiments to answer a medical or health question; you may want to design and build a product that solves a problem; or you may want to develop a new system or process that improves some aspect of a patient’s healthcare experience. The choice of project is up to you if you work alone or up to your team if you will be working with classmates.
Biomedical science is a broad field that includes basic science research; development of medical interventions to prevent; diagnose; and treat illnesses; patient care; and hospital management. You have been exposed to a wide variety of topics and careers; now you have the opportunity of explore a topic of personal interest. You will make a product; write a report; and make a formal oral presentation to an adult audience. The product may be the results and conclusion from a series of experiments; a prototype of a medical device; a multimedia diary of an internship experience; a school or community event that is a fundraiser or public service to raise awareness of a health issue; or any other product that your teacher approves.
Traditional Labs and Activities in Problem #8:
Determine a topic you want to investigate further. (Activity 8.1.1 Identifying a Project Topic).
Complete the Purpose section of your project proposal. (Activity 8.1.2 Literature Review).
Complete the Literature Review section of your project proposal (Activity 8.1.2 Literature Review).
Complete the Methods section of your project proposal. (Activity 8.1.3 Methodology).
Complete the Materials section of your project proposal. (Activity 8.1.4 Materials)
Complete the Project Schedule section of your project proposal. (Activity 8.1.5 Project Schedule)
Use the spaces below to list the intermediate products your teacher has approved to track your progress towards completing your project.
Prepare a final product related to your project. This product will vary depending on the details of your project. For example it may be a written laboratory report if you completed experiments to research a question; it may be a multimedia presentation describing your internship; it may be an event that people attend to learn more about a health issue; it may be a prototype of a medical device; or any other product you and your teacher upon. (Problem 8.1.6 What Did I Learn?)
Prepare a formal oral presentation detailing your work and your completed project. (Problem 8.1.6 What Did I Learn?)
Prepare a written report explaining and describing the planning; development; execution and completion of your project. (Problem 8.1.6 What Did I Learn?)
Prepare a portfolio of your Independent Project. (Problem 8.1.6 What Did I Learn?)
Write a reflection of your experience completing the Independent Project. (Problem 8.1.6 What Did I Learn?)
Give a formal oral presentation of your product and project to an adult audience. (Problem 8.1.6 What Did I Learn?)
School Country
United StatesSchool state
ArizonaSchool city
PhoenixHigh school
Mountain Ridge High SchoolSchool Address
22800 N. 67th AvenueSchool zip code
85308Requested competency code
Lab ScienceDate submitted
Approved
YesApproved competency code
- LBIO
- Biology