A new study by the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG), thecountry's leading genetics scientific society, found that more than85 percent of states have genetics standards that are inadequatefor preparing America's high school students for futureparticipation in a society and health care system that are certainto be increasingly impacted by genetics-based personalizedmedicine. ASHG's study findings are being published in theSeptember 1 issue of the CBE-Life Sciences Education journal(Citation: CBE-Life Sciences Education, Vol. 10, 1-10, Fall 2011). "Science education in the United States is based on testing andaccountability standards that are developed by each state," saidMichael Dougherty, PhD, director of education at ASHG and thestudy's lead author. "These standards determine the curriculum,instruction, and assessment of high school level science courses ineach state, and if standards are weak, then essential geneticscontent may not be taught." According to ASHG's study, which included all 50 states and theDistrict of Columbia: Only seven states have genetics standards that were rated as'adequate' for genetic literacy (Delaware, Illinois, Kansas,Michigan, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington). Indoor Led Display Screen
Of the 19 core concepts in genetics that were deemed essential byASHG, 14 were rated as being covered inadequately by the nation asa whole (or were absent altogether). Only two states, Michigan and Delaware, had more than 14 concepts(out of 19) rated as adequate. Twenty-three states had six or fewerconcepts rated as adequate. "ASHG's findings indicate that the vast majority of U.S. studentsin grade 12 may be inadequately prepared to understand fundamentalgenetic concepts," said Edward McCabe, MD, PhD, a pediatrician andgeneticist who is the executive director of the Linda CrnicInstitute for Down Syndrome at the University of Colorado."Healthcare is moving rapidly toward personalized medicine, whichis infused with genetics. China Outdoor Full Color Led Display
Therefore, it is essential we provideAmerica's youth with the conceptual toolkit that is necessary tomake informed healthcare decisions, and the fact that these keyconcepts in genetics are not being taught in many states isextremely concerning." [NOTE: ASHG's 19 core genetics concepts are listed on page 3 of theembargoed paper. Also, see pages 5-6 for two U.S. map charts thatprovide a state-by-state summary of the quality andcomprehensiveness of genetics coverage in states' science educationstandards. For a list of the individual concept scores for eachstate, see the supplementary data chart posted here .] "We hope the results of ASHG's analysis help influence educatorsand policy makers to improve their state's genetics standards,"said Dougherty. Led Screen Rental
"Alternatively, deficient states might benefit fromadopting science standards from the National Research Council'sFramework for K-12 Science Education, which, although not perfect,does a better job of addressing genetics concepts than most statestandards that are currently in place." Full-text paper Additional References Citations.
Of the 19 core concepts in genetics that were deemed essential byASHG, 14 were rated as being covered inadequately by the nation asa whole (or were absent altogether). Only two states, Michigan and Delaware, had more than 14 concepts(out of 19) rated as adequate. Twenty-three states had six or fewerconcepts rated as adequate. "ASHG's findings indicate that the vast majority of U.S. studentsin grade 12 may be inadequately prepared to understand fundamentalgenetic concepts," said Edward McCabe, MD, PhD, a pediatrician andgeneticist who is the executive director of the Linda CrnicInstitute for Down Syndrome at the University of Colorado."Healthcare is moving rapidly toward personalized medicine, whichis infused with genetics. China Outdoor Full Color Led Display
Therefore, it is essential we provideAmerica's youth with the conceptual toolkit that is necessary tomake informed healthcare decisions, and the fact that these keyconcepts in genetics are not being taught in many states isextremely concerning." [NOTE: ASHG's 19 core genetics concepts are listed on page 3 of theembargoed paper. Also, see pages 5-6 for two U.S. map charts thatprovide a state-by-state summary of the quality andcomprehensiveness of genetics coverage in states' science educationstandards. For a list of the individual concept scores for eachstate, see the supplementary data chart posted here .] "We hope the results of ASHG's analysis help influence educatorsand policy makers to improve their state's genetics standards,"said Dougherty. Led Screen Rental
"Alternatively, deficient states might benefit fromadopting science standards from the National Research Council'sFramework for K-12 Science Education, which, although not perfect,does a better job of addressing genetics concepts than most statestandards that are currently in place." Full-text paper Additional References Citations.