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Tuesday, 02 March 2010
Sixth Form students from both the Girls' Division and the Boys'
Division of Bolton School attended a talk aimed at giving them a
better understanding of genetics. The talk, given by Professor Ross
Sibson from the Cancer Research Centre at Liverpool University
formed part of the girls' Gifted and Talented Programme, an ongoing
Learning Support programme which aims to enrich the students'
learning experience and develop their thinking skills.
Professor Sibson spoke to the Year 12 and also some Year 11
pupils on the principles of genetics - how we can make use of
genetic information to help understand our individual risk of
developing disease and the possibility of genetics being able to
contribute to future diagnosis and treatment. He discussed the
factors which may increase the risk of developing certain diseases
including Cancer and whether genetic or environmental factors are
the dominant cause.
He also spoke to students about developments in genetics and the
possibility that we may all be able to have our own genetic
information read in as little as three years, along with the
ethical, legal and social considerations that this may bring, and
he explained concepts of genetic characteristics including how
humans and mice have many genetic similarities! The talk tied in
with the areas of genetics being studied in the Sixth Form, and
students were given the opportunity to have their questions
answered at the end.
Professor Sibson said: "The subject of genetics is a huge and
varied topic which would be impossible to cover in just one
lecture. However if the students take away just one thing from
today that sparks their interest in further studying the field I
will be happy."
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