Science Classroom Presentation

Porter and I visited the Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School 8th grade science classroom to teach them about genetic disorders. The class had just concluded their unit on the human body and genetics and they were able to answer many questions about DNA, genes, proteins and human physiology. Many of the students are thinking about medical careers and so throughout the presentation I paused and asked them to put their "doctor's hat" on and think about what it would be like to have a newborn with puzzling symptoms and lab results. What would they do next? And, once the students had understood Porter's Urea Cycle Disorder, what could be the course of treatment? What would he need in order to go home healthy? And, stay healthy? The students also asked great questions like Why didn't he show symptoms before birth? And, Can't geneticists simply change his gene?

This is all on the cusp of Rare Disease Day 2018 on February 28. A nice opportunity to focus on genetics.

Teaching @FHTuttleMS about genetic disorders and #ureacycledisorders! #RareDiseaseDay #genes @GlobalGenes @UVMMedCenter @rarediseaseday @RareDiseases @RebeccaBellMD pic.twitter.com/T4VkMO1iAD

— Chris Johnstone (@TechieSciGuy) February 21, 2019

It was also great to share Porter's transplant story and how it has affected his life. Several of the students in each class had friends or family that had received some sort of organ or tissue transplant. We swapped stories about transplant, recovery and the various injuries, conditions or diseases that have been remedied with organ or tissue donations.

The students loved meeting Porter and gave him copious high fives. I had the hand sanitizer ready!

Finally, this opportunity was particularly special for me. The teacher, Lauren Bartlett, was my science teacher when I was in 7th grade. And, as a fellow science teacher myself now, it was surreal and special to share the classroom with her and share in the education of her current students!

Here is my presentation slide deck: