Human Chromosomal Abnormalities: Web Expeditions

These explorations are intended to expand your understanding of common kinds of human genetic abnormalities and their effects. Use your favorite Internet search programs to roam around the World Wide Web and discover what other people who have interest in these subjects have said to explain and support their views. Seek out reliable, factual sources. Do not stop at just two or three. It is worth the extra time to thoroughly research these questions and get views on all sides of the issues.

Questions to Explore

1.	Look for Internet sites that focus on human autosomal chromosome abnormalities. Who is maintaining these sites? Why are they doing it? What kind of information do they provide? What are their biases?
2.	Look for Internet sites that focus on human sex chromosome abnormalities. Who is maintaining these sites? Why are they doing it? What kind of information do they provide? What are their biases?
3.	Look for Internet sites that describe new detection techniques to discover whether or not a child will be born with a severe genetic birth defect. Are these new diagnostic tools available now? What do they cost? Are there risks involved in using them? Why aren't they used for all pregnant women in industrialized nations?

Help Getting Started

If you have not been satisfied with the search programs that you have used in the past, try one of the following. Each has its strengths and weaknesses. Unfortunately, none of them can link you to everything available on the Web today because of the rapid growth of sites and the way search engines selectively exclude certain kinds of sites.

Old Standby General Search Programs		Specialized Information Search Programs

Altavista Alltheweb Bing Google Teoma Yahoo		Answers.com MyOptumHealth MedBot MEDLINEplus OminMedicalSearch Wikipedia

If you don't have success searching with these programs, take a look at the Related Internet Links section of this tutorial.

CAUTION: In doing your searches, keep in mind that not everything on the Web is accurate, current, or true. To help discover which sites can be trusted and which ones cannot, ask yourself the following questions:

1.	Who are the authors of the site? What are their credentials? Are they experts?
2.	Is the information current? When was the website created and last updated?
3.	Do the facts presented in the site seem correct?
4.	Is the purpose of the site to objectively inform and explain or to persuade and sell a particular perspective?