High school genetics education and Alzheimer disease.

Improved and updated human genetics education, including Alzheimer disease (AD) awareness and education, is urgently needed. National, state, and local standards for science education agree that human genetics, biotechnology applications, and the social and ethical issues raised by modern technology need to be taught in high school science using hands-on and inquiry methods of teaching. High school science courses are the last opportunity for most individuals to learn human genetics. There are an increasing number of new and successful human genetics curriculum materials and inservice teacher education programs at the secondary school level aligned with national and state science education standards. These curricula and teacher education programs can be enhanced by collaborative partnerships of geneticists, genetics professionals, biotechnology scientists and technical personnel, and science educators, several of which are in successful operation. Because human genetics involves families and generations, genetics education tied to AD may provide a unique opportunity to educate two generations, both students and parents, to the many medical, personal, family, community, and cultural issues of human genetics and genetic conditions. Implementing human genetics and AD education provides a recipe for accurate, relevant, sustainable and exciting teaching and learning for all involved.