Here's an example of what's due today

Specificity vs sensitivity

Wed, Sep 30, 2026 · Week 6 · Genetics of Disease (Medical Interventions)

Today's goal: Distinguish specificity from sensitivity and use your ELISA results to discuss how good the test is.

Learn first

What a finished product looks like

This is a model of the work you should turn in today. Use it to check your own: match the structure and the level of detail, do not copy it. Your data and wording should be your own.

2x2 classification table

Completes: A two-by-two table sorting ELISA results into true and false positives and negatives, with a one-sentence judgment of the run's reliability that cites the controls.

Definitions: sensitivity catches true positives (sick people who test positive); specificity avoids false positives (healthy people who test positive).

Reliability judgment: because my positive control turned color and my negative control stayed clear, I trust this run's specificity, and the one odd result looks like a sensitivity issue (a known-positive sample that read weak), not contamination.

	Actually sick	Actually healthy
Test positive	True positive	False positive
Test negative	False negative	True negative

Also due today: Bring to Friday's report writing session; include in the lab report.

Check yourself

WebXam problem for today's skill

One exam-style question that uses exactly what you practiced today. Try it before you reveal the answer, then read why each choice is right or wrong.

WebXam-style domain: Biotechnology Research and ExperimentsSelf-check skill: Distinguishing sensitivity from specificity

A new test correctly identifies almost every truly sick person as positive, but it also flags many healthy people as positive. How would you describe this test?

Tap an answer to see the full explanation. Nothing is recorded or graded.

Back to today's lesson