염색체, 유전자, 유전정보에 대한 학생들의 이해도 연구

Abstract

Due to the expansion of genetic screening, recent advances in gene technology and the Human Genome Project, there has been increasing concern about the poor level of understanding of inheritance within the general population. This study investigated students' knowledge and understanding of genes, chromosomes, cell division, and inheritance. A sample of 661 school students aged 16∼17 took part in this study. The instrument made by Lewis & Wood-Robinson were used. Data were collected using written questions requiring individual written responses. χ2-test was used to analyze the results.Findings showed that students had a very limited understanding of the basic knowledge relating to function, structure, and location of genes. They did not recognize the relationship between chromosomes and genetic information. Many students thought that cells of different types within an individual would contain different genetic information.Students also had a lack of understanding of mitosis and meiosis. The concept of meiosis clearly presented a major problem. Students did not understand that after meiosis the chromosome numbers would have and genetic information would vary.