The Department of Family and Community Medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, with funding from the National Science Foundation (Award #1612616), developed a set of five modules to teach Latinx adults with a limited science background about genetics and genomics.
Electronic copies of the materials are available to the public at no cost.
Learning Modules
Learn more about each module and watch videos in the dropdowns menus below.
Documents provided may be edited for your specific needs. PDFs versions are also available.
Each Learning Module contains:
- Educator Lesson Manual
- Lesson Plan
- Flipchart
- Participant Handout
- English-language Video Script
- Video (Please note that videos on the English site are only available in Spanish with English subtitles. Full transcripts are available in both Spanish and English.)
Secondhand smoke, DNA and cancer (Spanish language video)
The family is preparing for Juanito’s first birthday; his family learns what secondhand smoke is and what they can do to protect their family from it. They also learn about cells, genes, DNA and how secondhand smoke can cause mutations in DNA that can increase one’s risk of cancer.
Lesson 1 Download (zip)
Download Includes: Educator Lesson Manual, Lesson Plan, Flipchart, Participant Handout, English-language Video Script
Lead causes harm independently of genes.
As the family prepares the backyard for Juanito’s party, they learn that lead is an example of an environmental exposure that causes harm through a mechanism that does not involve genes. They also learn about the health effects of lead exposure, how to reduce lead exposure, and about conception and how twins are formed.
Lesson 2 Download (zip)
Download Includes: Educator Lesson Manual, Lesson Plan, Flipchart, Participant Handout, English-language Video Script
Bisphenol A (BPA) and epigenetic changes to genes. (Spanish language video).
While Juanito’s mom makes a piñata for the party, she learns about BPA and how it can affect genes through epigenetic changes. The family talks about how to limit use of plastics to reduce negative health effects of BPA.
Lesson 3 Download (zip)
Download Includes: Educator Lesson Manual, Lesson Plan, Flipchart, Participant Handout, English-language Video Script
Food choices and gene-environment interactions. (Spanish language video).
While cooking for the party, the family learns about food choices such as sugar, salt, and fats. They also learn how nutrition can modify genetic health risks.
Lesson 4 Download (zip)
Download Includes: Educator Lesson Manual, Lesson Plan, Flipchart, Participant Handout, English-language Video Script
Pesticides and summary of mechanisms, including genomic, through which environmental exposures can influence health. (Spanish language video).
The family celebrates Juanito’s first birthday and learn about safer alternatives to pesticides to get rid of pests. The family talks about how life choices, behaviors, and environmental exposures can affect their health.
Lesson 5 Download (zip)
Download Includes: Educator Lesson Manual, Lesson Plan, Flipchart, Participant Handout, English-language Video Script
Training Materials
- Train the Trainer Manual (pdf), Train the Trainer Manual (doc)
- Educator’s Manual (pdf), Educator's Manual (doc)
Additional Information
Our preliminary analysis suggests that study participants’ genomic knowledge increased, based on pre- and posttest results. A more rigorous analysis is being conducted. Research findings will be published.
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.