Again, it will be up to the science teacher to introduce the genetics, but I benefited from the following two books from my library:
Brynie, Faith Hickman.
Genetics and Human Health
. Brookfield, Conn.: Millbrook Press, 1995. Very helpful with the basic understanding of how DNA controls cell production and how genes function and can become damaged, causing medical problems.
Rodgers, Joann Ellison.
Cancer
. New York: Chelsea House, 1990. Provides history, genes, viruses, statistics and new approaches to treating cancer.
Jones, Steve.
The Language of Genes: Solving the Mysteries of Our Genetic Past, Present and Future
. New York: Anchor Books, 1995.
Students will benefit from reading mainstream media articles on the experiences of science writers. Examples:
Barnes-Svarney, Patricia. "Science Writing: Today and Tomorrow."
The Writer
. Nov. 1994: 15-17.
Bigelow, Bruce V. "Writer Strives to Humanize Science Journalism."
San Diego Union-Tribune
. 16 Aug. 1995. E-2.
McKenzie, Aline. "An Inexact Science: Coverage of Subjects Like Cloning and Cancer Sometimes Suffers Because of Nature of News Business."
Dallas Morning News
. 07 June 1998: 11.
