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In order to explore Chromosome 11 you will need to have the Shockwave plugin. If you do not have this plugin, you can download it here - it will take around eight minutes to download if you are using a 56k modem.
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Thought Bubble Instructions
At the top of the screen is your thought bubble which gives instructions about what to do at each stage when you investigate the family tree. Each time the text changes you should follow the instructions to proceed to the next section. Keep an eye out for new instructions!
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Medical Reference
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At certain points during your investigation you will need to look into the Medical Reference for information about the Sickle Cell condition and the related genetics. Click the book icon to open the reference. The text next to the medical reference icon will indicate the opening page.
You can freely browse the reference by choosing a subject from the index page. This will allow you to find out more before proceeding. Sometimes you will need to look at the correct reference page in to continue. Close the reference by pressing the 'X' in the top right hand corner of the reference page. |
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Personal Files
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To find out about individual family members click on their name or photo in the family tree. You can access each person's information at any time. At certain points your thought bubble indicates that you should open a specific file. Opening the file will allow you to proceed to the next stage.
Each file contains up to four pieces of information: Family History; Medical Records; Death Certificate; and DNA Data. This information provides clues about whether people are carriers, sufferers, or clear of Sickle Cell Anaemia. Some of the earlier generations may have had their symptoms and cause of death misdiagnosed. For example Ngozi's Death Certificate indicates blood poisoning although her Medical Records might hint at Sickle Cell. Genetics Counsellors cannot disclose medical information about the families they investigate, for this reason, you'll see the 'Confidential' stamp on each Personal File.
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Sickle Cell Alleles
Under each family member's name is an empty space which will display the genetic information showing whether they suffer from Sickle Cell Anaemia. As your investigation continues you will need to work out the correct genetic information for each person. Each person is either a sufferer, a carrier or clear.
An allele is one member of a pair or series of genes that occupy a specific position on a specific chromosome. See the Medical Reference under Allele and Inheritance for further information about how genes, inheritance and alleles relate. Each Allele is represented by a letter: upper case for the dominant condition, 'H'; and lower case for recessive, 'h'. For the Sickle Cell gene, the three different allele combinations ('HH', 'Hh' and 'hh') indicate information about a persons health:
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- 'HH' means that a person is clear of Sickle Cell, but that they are prone to suffer from malaria.
- 'Hh' shows the person is a carrier of Sickle Cell, but does not suffer from the disease. These people will not suffer from malaria.
- 'hh' indicates a Sickle Cell sufferer, who will also not suffer from malaria.
Although all these conditions are different it is not always easy to tell the difference between a carrier and a non-carrier.
Children can only ever inherit a combination of their parent's alleles. This means that if the parents are both 'HH' the child will also be 'HH'. If both parents are 'hh' then the child will be 'hh', and if both are 'Hh' then all combinations are possible, the child could be 'HH','Hh', or 'hh'. You can work out the possibilities for the other combinations. This is crucial in working out everyone's genes in the family tree.
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At certain points the thought bubble will prompt you to enter the alleles for a particular person. Use the filled out family genes, the Medical Reference, and the Personal Files to work out the alleles. You should click into the orange highlighted box, and type the correct allele pair ('HH', 'Hh' or 'hh') followed by the 'ENTER' key on your keyboard. Look at the thought bubble to see if you have the correct allele, and try again if not. You must type in the right allele before continuing! |
Family Tree Key
The family tree diagram uses the conventional symbols to represent information about the family members.
Gender is indicated by the shape of the photograph container: a square for male; and a circle for female members. A triangle indicates a miscarriage and a diamond represents a future child.
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Final Report
The final report is the document that concludes the case and gives information to the parents about your findings. You will be asked to make a selection from a number of options to complete the sentences correctly. You make a selection by clicking the appropriate box at the top of the report screen, inside the thought bubble. If your selection is incorrect you will receive feedback to help you towards the correct solution.
If you require further help, the medical referenece and the family tree icons are available at the bottom of the screen. To return to the report you can click on the report icon.
To finish the report sign on the signature line with the mouse!
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Chromosome 11 
