CRISPR and reproductive screening
Explain how CRISPR-Cas9 edits DNA, including off-target risk, and apply it to a reproductive screening case.
Annotated CRISPR article (guide RNA, Cas9 cut, repair step marked; off-target defined) plus a CER on using CRISPR in the reproductive screening case.
- 1Do thisExplain how CRISPR-Cas9 edits DNA, including off-target risk, and apply it to a reproductive screening case.
- 2Use this resource
- 3Submit thisCER: Annotated CRISPR article (guide RNA, Cas9 cut, repair step marked; off-target defined) plus a CER on using CRISPR in the reproductive screening case.
- 4Submit it here
- 1CMSD website. Go to clevelandmetroschools.org and click the Clever button.
- 2Clever. Clever opens. Sign in if it asks.
- 3Microsoft (district) login. Use your district Microsoft account (the one for school).
- 4Schoology. Open Schoology, then your class, then Assignments, and find the file named below.
The file to submit is named: Genetics of Disease (Medical Interventions) › Gene therapy, viral vectors, somatic vs. germline editing, CRISPR basics, reproductive screening. › CEROpen Schoology
- CER:
- Claim, Evidence, Reasoning — make a claim, back it with evidence, explain your reasoning.
- SOP:
- Standard Operating Procedure — the exact steps to follow (especially in a lab).
- Tracker:
- Your PLTW progress log where you record completed evidence.
- myPLTW:
- The PLTW course site where you do the online activities — you open it through Schoology.
Minute-by-minute · 80-minute block
💡 Big idea: How precise does a molecular scissors need to be before it is safe enough to use on a human embryo?
- 0-8Hook headlines; introduce guide RNA, Cas9, and repair as three discrete steps
- 8-30Annotate CRISPR article: mark guide RNA, Cas9 cut, repair step; define off-target in margin
- 30-45Read reproductive screening case; note what CRISPR could and could not ethically do
- 45-62Write CER claim about using CRISPR in this case with two evidences
- 62-75Peer review: check that reasoning names one CRISPR limit
- 75-80Submit annotation and CER; preview Friday ethics synthesis
- • Hook: Show a headline about CRISPR curing sickle cell disease and one about an off-target mutation; ask which story matters more for policy.
- • Why it matters: Reproductive screening cases ask clinicians to apply CRISPR capabilities and limits to decisions about embryos.
- • Today's work: annotation first (so you understand the tool), then the case (so you apply the limits).
- • Exit goal: Annotated article and reproductive screening CER submitted before the bell.
- 1Annotate the assigned CRISPR article, marking the guide RNA, the Cas9 cut, and the repair step.
- 2Define off-target editing and explain in one line why it is a safety concern.
- 3Read the reproductive screening case and decide what CRISPR could and could not ethically do.
- 4Write a CER claim about using CRISPR in the case, with two pieces of evidence.
- 5Submit your annotation and reproductive screening CER as your daily evidence.
- • You'll be able to explain CRISPR-Cas9 editing and off-target risk.
- • You'll be able to apply CRISPR limits to a reproductive case.
- • CRISPR-Cas9 uses a guide RNA to direct the Cas9 endonuclease to a specific genomic address; Cas9 cuts both DNA strands.
- • The cell repairs the cut via NHEJ (often creating insertions/deletions) or HDR (if a repair template is supplied); HDR enables precise edits.
- • Off-target edits occur when the guide RNA matches non-target sequences well enough to direct a cut; this can disrupt tumor-suppressor genes or other critical loci.
Your PLTW work today
Gene therapy, viral vectors, somatic vs. germline editing, CRISPR basics, reproductive screening. · CRISPR and reproductive screening
Day 3 of this lesson. Open this exact section in myPLTW (reached through Schoology), then do the work below.
Do this: Open Activity 2.2.1 Gene Therapy in myPLTW and complete the CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing activity alongside the reproductive screening case.
Mark the CRISPR activity complete after your annotation and CER are submitted.
Vector chart should be done (Tuesday); CRISPR annotation and CER due today.
Annotated CRISPR article and reproductive screening CER submitted in the course shell.
All PLTW activities are completed inside the PLTW course environment — this page only gives direction. Submit producibles on Schoology.
Today's PLTW tracker
Check things off as you work, then submit. This tells Mr. Mendoza how you're doing so he can help the class. It does not replace turning in your producible on Schoology.
Use the code Mr. Mendoza gave you, not your name. Saved on this device.
Gene therapy, viral vectors, somatic vs. germline editing, CRISPR basics, reproductive screening. · CRISPR and reproductive screening
Open Activity 2.2.1 Gene Therapy in myPLTW and complete the CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing activity alongside the reproductive screening case.
Vector chart should be done (Tuesday); CRISPR annotation and CER due today.
This is how Mr. Mendoza sees the class keeping pace with PLTW. Be honest, it only helps if it is accurate.
🎯 Explain how CRISPR-Cas9 edits DNA, including off-target risk, and apply it to a reproductive screening case.
- Annotate the assigned CRISPR article, marking the guide RNA, the Cas9 cut, and the repair step.
- Define off-target editing and explain in one line why it is a safety concern.
- Read the reproductive screening case and decide what CRISPR could and could not ethically do.
- Write a CER claim about using CRISPR in the case, with two pieces of evidence.
- Submit your annotation and reproductive screening CER as your daily evidence.
CER: Annotated CRISPR article (guide RNA, Cas9 cut, repair step marked; off-target defined) plus a CER on using CRISPR in the reproductive screening case.
Submit on SchoologyUpload by 11:29 PM for full credit.
| Task | Who |
|---|---|
| Annotate the assigned CRISPR article, marking the guide RNA, the Cas9 cut, and the repair step. | _______ |
| Define off-target editing and explain in one line why it is a safety concern. | _______ |
| Read the reproductive screening case and decide what CRISPR could and could not ethically do. | _______ |
| Write a CER claim about using CRISPR in the case, with two pieces of evidence. | _______ |
| Submit your annotation and reproductive screening CER as your daily evidence. | _______ |
Working solo? Put your own name in "Who" for every row.
- You'll be able to explain CRISPR-Cas9 editing and off-target risk.
- You'll be able to apply CRISPR limits to a reproductive case.
Teacher-posted resources
Classroom documents for this lesson. Ones marked “Open the file” open right here; the rest are posted in Schoology. Use the label on each card to choose the right move.
Use this if you were absent, got stuck, or need another pass before you submit the lesson artifact.
Placement rationale
Matched Gene therapy, CRISPR, reproductive ethics by path:Medical-Interventions/Unit-2_How-to-Screen-Your-Genes/2.2_Our-Genetic-Future; keywords:gene therapy, reproductive. Score 138. Visibility: student-schoology (student-facing resource; link through Schoology rather than local path).
Open this when the class reaches this activity and use it to complete the required lesson artifact.
Placement rationale
Matched Gene therapy, CRISPR, reproductive ethics by path:Medical-Interventions/Unit-2_How-to-Screen-Your-Genes/2.2_Our-Genetic-Future; keywords:ethics, reproductive. Score 138. Visibility: student-schoology (student-facing resource; link through Schoology rather than local path).
Use this after the required lesson work when you are ready for a harder application or a deeper connection.
Placement rationale
Matched Gene therapy, CRISPR, reproductive ethics by path:Medical-Interventions/Unit-2_How-to-Screen-Your-Genes/00_Unit-Overview; keywords:gene therapy, crispr. Score 134. Visibility: student-schoology (student-facing resource; link through Schoology rather than local path).
How to get there: open the CMSD website, click Clever, sign in with your Microsoft (district) account, then open Schoology from Clever.
This unit's vocabulary
Tap the speaker to hear a term. Weekly vocabulary task: add two of these terms to your notebook glossary with a definition and an example in your own words.
WebXam practice
Cumulative WebXam review
A quick mixed-review pulling questions from earlier units plus today, so the WebXam material stays fresh.
Where this leads — careers
What today's skills lead to. These are real health-science careers this course builds toward. Tap one to see, on the US Department of Labor's O*NET site, what the job actually involves, what it pays, and how fast it is growing.
What to do if you were absent
Today is individual PLTW work, so do exactly what we did in class, from home: complete the same PLTW target above, then submit your CER.
Open Schoology (CMSD) and keep goingHow to get there: open the CMSD website, click Clever, sign in with your Microsoft (district) account, then open Schoology from Clever.
Class still runs. Complete the online activity above (it's self-guided). Need the concept taught without a teacher? Use this authoritative explainer:
MedlinePlus: What is gene therapy?Optional extra credit (async)
You've passed Unit 2, so the optional extra-credit track is open. Complete reserved-unit work from home (virtual labs included) for extra credit, all submitted on Schoology.
Open the extra-credit track- CompleteEvery required part of the artifact is present, nothing left blank.
- AccurateThe science and the data are correct and match the evidence.
- Scientific reasoningYou explain your claim with evidence and reasoning (CER), not just an answer.
- Professional communicationClear, organized, labeled, and written the way a clinician or scientist would.
- SubmittedTurned in the right way (Schoology for routine work) and confirmed.
Drop your Thu, Nov 5, 2026 · CRISPR and reproductive screening here. Use a clear file name (your initials + project). Routine work still goes to Schoology (via the CMSD portal).
Upload a project