Glencoe Biology

Unit 9: The Human Body

WebQuest Projects

What Effect does Air Pollution have on Asthma?

Laser Eye Surgery

Phytochemicals and a Healthy Diet

Investigating Disease and Prevention


WHAT EFFECT DOES AIR POLLUTION HAVE ON ASTHMA?

Introduction

Do you or someone you know have asthma? What is it? What causes this disease? Some think that increased levels of air pollution are responsible for increasing numbers of asthma sufferers. In this WebQuest you’ll find out the answers to these questions and also do some research into the debate about what may be causing increased incidents of asthma.

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Task

Your job in this WebQuest is to develop an educated opinion as to whether or not air pollution causes higher rates of asthma. You’ll need to learn what asthma really is – and what it isn’t. You’ll also need to find out the difference between an asthma cause and a trigger, and the factors that are involved in the development of asthma, such as smoking and genetic predisposition. And you’ll look at evidence that may link increased levels of air pollution with increased numbers of asthma cases in a population.

Once you’ve done your research and formed your opinion, you’ll create a project that will reflect your opinion. It will be developed and presented from the perspective of a specific member of society, such as doctor, parent, researcher, member of industry, etc.

Your project may be an informational brochure or multimedia presentation. It should present your opinion and be delivered from the perspective you’ve chosen, keeping your specific audience in mind. Your goal is to convince them that your conclusion is correct, and to encourage them to take appropriate action.

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Resources

http://www.noah.cuny.edu/asthma/asthma.html

  • What is the difference between asthma and allergies?

Background on Asthma:

http://www.asthmainamerica.com/bkgrd.htm

Allergy Facts Quiz:

http://www.aaaai.org/misc/topicofthemonth/
0500/quiz.html

FreeBreather:

http://www.asthmalearninglab.com/

Indoor Air Pollution:

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/hpguide.html

Outdoor Air and Health:

http://www.wri.org/wr-98-99/airpoll.htm

Recognizing Asthma Symptoms

http://www.mayohealth.org/mayo/9602/htm/asthma.htm

Indoor Asthma Triggers:

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/asthma/triggers/index.html

Reducing Air Pollution:

http://www.zone10.com/wsdocs/tech/NASA/fyh.htm

http://www.co.sandiego.ca.us/cnty/cntydepts/
landuse/air/faq.html#Q13

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Time

1-2 weeks.

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Process

Where does this Internet research lead you? Once you’ve done your research, decide what you think about this issue. Do you think that increased levels of air pollution cause higher rates of asthma?

Choose a perspective from which to develop your presentation. This perspective may be that of a doctor, parent, student, member of industry, researcher, or another that you decide upon. Remember that there is a specific audience for each of these perspectives, and your job is to inform this audience. For example, a parent may be concerned either that their child may develop asthma from air pollution in the school and surrounding areas, or that there is unnecessary money being spent on reducing indoor air pollutants that are not a health hazard. The parent’s audience might be parents of their students’ classmates or members of the local school board. An industry representative’s audience may be members of the community or local government officials.

Developing Your Presentation

http://desktoppub.miningco.com/compute/
desktoppub/msubk12.htm

http://www.physics.uiuc.edu/People/Staff
/Celia/Writing/tsld015.htm

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Conclusion

In the process of completing this WebQuest, you’ve not only become informed about asthma, you have developed important critical thinking skills. You have learned that there are often many factors involved in an issue and how to examine these different aspects. You have read information to answer key questions about a topic, and you have formed your own educated opinion. You’ve also learned about writing persuasively in order to convince your audience, and put that to work by creating your own presentation. These skills will serve you well as you form opinions on other issues in the future. Congratulations on a highly productive endeavor!

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LASER EYE SURGERY

Introduction

Suppose you are watching television one day and notice that you have to squint to see the screen clearly. You decide to visit an optometrist for a vision screening. After the screening, the optometrist tells you that you have a vision problem called myopia – nearsightedness. Does this mean you will have to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses in order to see? In the past, the answer to your question would have been yes. However, there is another option that you may decide is a better alternative than wearing corrective lenses: laser eye surgery. You may have noticed printed advertisements and television commercials that advertise a type of laser eye surgery called LASIK. What is laser eye surgery? Can laser eye surgery correct myopia? Is laser eye surgery something that you should have done to correct your vision problem?

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Task

Your job in this WebQuest is to learn all about laser eye surgery. You will learn what types of vision problems can be corrected by laser eye surgery. You will explore the many different types of laser eye surgery and identify the ones that are used to correct myopia. Because not every patient is a candidate for laser eye surgery, you will determine if you are a potential candidate for this type of vision correction. You will also find out about the advantages and disadvantages of laser eye surgery. Finally, you will answer a set of questions to demonstrate what you have learned about laser eye surgery, and make a decision about whether or not you would choose to have this surgery.

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Resources

Look at the web sites given here to find the information that will enable you to answer questions about laser eye surgery.

  • Laser Eye Surgery: Is it worth looking into?
    Visit this site to read an article from the FDA Consumer Magazine about laser eye surgery to correct vision problems. The site includes a description of how vision works, and a description of both laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) surgeries. Scroll down to learn who is a candidate for laser eye surgery and for answers to frequently asked questions about these procedures. This is an excellent, comprehensive, and unbiased site.
  • Comprehensive Info on LASIK and Other Vision Surgery Techniques.
    At this site you can learn all about the various types of surgery available to correct vision problems. Scroll down and click on types of corrective surgery to read about flap procedures such as LASIK, LASEK, and ALK; photoablation procedures such as PRK; and corneal incision procedures such as RK, HK, and AK. Each procedure is covered in detail at this site.
  • The LASIK Procedure.
    Go to this site for a basic description of the LASIK eye surgery. Scroll down and click on detailed description to see photos of this procedure.
  • National Eye Institute.
    At this site you can find information on eye diseases, and eye care resources. Although it doesn’t discuss laser eye surgery directly, it does have diagrams and information on vision and vision problems.
  • LASIK Institute.
    Visit this site to find out more about laser eye surgery, particularly LASIK surgery. This site provides patients with detailed information on laser eye surgery. It also provides information for surgeons and researchers.
  • LASIK Eye Surgery: What is LASIK?
    Go to this Food and Drug Administration (FDA) site for information on the eye and vision errors and to learn about the types of surgery to correct those errors. In the menu bar at the top of the page, click on when is LASIK not for me to find out who is not a candidate for this type of surgery.
  • Introduction to Refractive Errors.
    At this site by the Cornea and Laser Eye Institute you can find out what causes vision errors and how laser surgery can correct these errors.

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Time

1 class period for research and answering the set of questions

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Process

Read through the following set of questions before you begin your Internet research. As you explore each site, look for answers to the questions.

Questions about Laser Eye Surgery

  1. What common vision problems can be corrected using laser eye surgery?
  2. What type of laser is used in laser eye surgery?
  3. What do the letters LASIK stand for? What do the letters PRK stand for?
  4. What kinds of vision problems can be corrected by LASIK surgery? By PRK surgery?
  5. Who should NOT have laser eye surgery?
  6. Suppose you have myopia. Explain why you would, or would not, choose to have laser eye surgery in order to correct your vision problem. Use information from your Internet research to support your position.

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Conclusion

In the process of completing this WebQuest, you’ve become familiar with the types of vision problems that can be corrected with laser eye surgery, and become informed about the types of laser eye surgery available. You have learned about both LASIK and PRK procedures in particular, and have identified who might be candidates for such surgeries. You have developed research skills as you explored the web sites given and identified the relevant information to answer the set of questions above. Did your research convince you that laser eye surgery is an effective treatment for vision problems? If you have vision problems that can be corrected through laser eye surgery, would you choose this form of treatment?

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PHYTOCHEMICALS AND A HEALTHY DIET

Introduction

Do you like broccoli and cauliflower? Do you eat carrots and peas? Perhaps you drink orange or grapefruit juice for breakfast every day, or eat an apple at lunchtime. Fruits and vegetables such as these are essential to a healthy diet, yet many people do not eat enough of these natural foods. There is mounting evidence that eating a well-rounded diet, consisting of several servings of fruits and vegetables every day, can reduce the effects of aging, and help to prevent diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. The chemicals that occur naturally in plants, such as fruits and vegetables, are called phytochemicals. You may have seen television commercials that discuss the health benefits of taking supplements that contain lutein and capsaicin, two types of phytochemicals. What are phytochemicals exactly? What foods contain important phytochemicals? Do you have to eat broccoli to obtain its healthful phytochemicals, or can you benefit equally by taking a pill that contains those phytochemicals? In this WebQuest, you’ll learn the answers to these questions as you explore the nature of phytochemicals.

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Task

Your job in this WebQuest is to learn all about the phytochemicals found in fruits and vegetables, and the benefits of eating these foods as part of a balanced diet. You will discover what phytochemicals have been studied scientifically, and what these research studies have discovered. You will learn about the different phytochemicals that can be found in natural foods, and the health benefits of each type. You will fill in a table in which ten different foods or groups of foods are listed. For each food or group of food, you will list the important phytochemical(s) each contains, and the health benefits of eating that food. Finally, you will answer a few questions about phytochemicals to demonstrate what you have learned in your Internet research.

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Resources

Look at the web sites given here to find the information that will enable you to complete your table on phytochemicals and answer a few questions.

  • Position: Phytochemicals and functional foods. Visit this site by the American Dietetic Association to read an excellent paper about the benefits of phytochemicals in the diet. The article discusses some of the phytochemicals in foods such as broccoli, onions, garlic, and soybeans that have been shown in scientific studies to have an impact on cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension.
  • Phytochemicals – Vitamins of the Future? Visit this Ohio State University site to learn more about the use of phytochemicals to combat many types of cancer. The American Cancer Society suggests that people eat mostly plant foods to combat cancer rather than animal-based foods. At this site you can see a list of foods and the phytochemicals they contain.
  • Phytochemicals and Cardiovascular Disease. Go to this site by the American Heart Association to find out what phytochemicals are being used to treat heart disease. The Association recommends that people eat more fruits and vegetables to obtain the optimum benefits from a healthy diet.
  • The Phytochemical Collection. Visit this site by Florida State University for a brief history of the importance of including fruits and vegetables in the diet. Scroll down to see a listing of phytochemicals that have been shown scientifically to combat diseases.
  • What are the benefits of Vitamins and Phytochemicals? Go to this site to read about the general health benefits that are associated with vitamins and phytochemicals. Scroll down to phytochemicals to find out the difference between garlic supplements and natural garlic.
  • Phytochemicals: Guardians of Our Health. At this site you can read about the anticancer potential of foods such as garlic, soybeans, cabbage, ginger, licorice, and carrots. Scroll down to read about the health benefits of soy, citrus fruits, and whole grains.

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Time

1 class period for research, filling in the table, and answering a few questions.

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Process

Now that you have completed your research on phytochemicals, prepare a table like the one below with the information that you have gathered about the foods listed. For each food or group of foods, list the phytochemicals they contain, then list the health benefits of the phytochemicals or the diseases that those phytochemicals can be used to treat. You will need to look at all of the web sites listed in order to complete the table. Once the table has been filled in, answer the questions that follow.

Table 1. Phytochemicals and a Healthy Diet

FoodPhytochemical(s) Health Benefit/Disease Treated
Broccoli, cauliflower   

Garlic

  
Onions  
Citrus fruits  
Tomatoes, peppers  
Grapes, berries, cherries, apples, cantaloupes  
Soybeans, beans, oats, seeds, whole grains, brown rice  
Licorice root, green tea  

Spinach

  

Questions about Phytochemicals and a Healthy Diet

  1. Scientific studies have shown that phytochemicals are associated with prevention and treatment of four leading causes of death in the United States. What are they?
  2. Many vegetables are prepared by cooking, such as broccoli and cauliflower. Does cooking destroy the phytochemicals found in these foods?
  3. Health food stores already sell some phytochemicals in pill form. Does taking phytochemicals in a pill form provide the same health benefits as eating the food itself?

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Conclusion

In the process of completing this WebQuest, you’ve become informed about the importance of including fruits and vegetables in your diet. You have learned what phytochemicals are and what foods contain important phytochemicals. You have developed critical thinking skills as you explored the health benefits of phytochemicals. To protect yourself from developing diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease in the future, what changes should you make in your diet today?

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INVESTIGATING DISEASE AND PREVENTION

Introduction

Epidemiology is the study of the causes of diseases. Epidemiologists are scientists who conduct research into how disease is spread among populations. Their investigations lead to strategies for how to control and prevent the spread of illnesses. Five diseases—cholera, the flu epidemic of the 20th century, malaria, polio, and smallpox—are among many diseases that have plagued people for centuries. What different processes did scientists use to study these five diseases? What were some of the misconceptions people had about these diseases before scientists were able to understand their causes and how to prevent them? In this WebQuest, you will explore five different diseases that have affected people throughout history to find the answers to these questions. You will also create a timeline to describe the history of one of these diseases and how it impacts worldwide health today.

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Task

Your job in this WebQuest is to learn about diseases that have affected people for hundreds of years. You will investigate five different diseases to learn how scientists have worked to prevent their spread among populations. You will answer a set of questions about these diseases and their prevention to demonstrate what you have learned. Once you've conducted some research to increase your knowledge of these diseases and their prevention, you'll select one of the diseases to investigate further. You'll create a timeline that shows key dates in the study of that disease as well as other dates and events that occurred during the same period of time. The purpose of the timeline is to show how scientific study has led to discoveries that help prevent the spread of disease. You'll include a description of each date on the timeline and summarize the current state of prevention of this disease.

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Time

2-3 days to answer the set of questions and produce the timeline and its descriptions

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Process

First, read through the following set of questions before you begin your Internet research. As you explore each site, look for answer to the questions.

Questions about Investigating Disease and Prevention

  1. How did John Snow use maps to study the spread of cholera?
  2. What were some of the misconceptions people had about the cause of the flu epidemic of 1918?
  3. How effective was Jonas Salk’s initial testing of the polio vaccine?
  4. What are some strategies used to prevent contracting malaria?
  5. What did Edward Jenner discover about the relationship between smallpox and cowpox?

Next, visit the Web sites provided below to get more information about one of the diseases you researched to create a timeline. Your timeline should include important dates that led to discoveries about causes of and ways to prevent the disease. Write a summary about the importance of each date. You should also include dates and summaries in your timeline for other relevant historic events of the period. The end of your timeline should include a description of how the disease you researched currently affects people around the world.

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Resources

Look at the web sites given here to find the information that will help you answer questions about different diseases and their prevention, and to gather information to use as you build your timeline.

You may use these resources to help you develop your timeline:

http://www.teacheroz.com/20thcent.htm

http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/howtomakeatimeline1.htm

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Conclusion

In the process of completing this WebQuest, you've become informed about five different diseases: cholera, the flu epidemic of the 20th century, malaria, polio, and smallpox. You have read information to answer questions about this topic, and have increased your knowledge of how scientists have studied these diseases in the quest to minimize their impact on people and discover effective treatments. You've also used your research skills to create a timeline that describes how one of these diseases has affected people throughout history.

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