DNA School Presentation

May is Williams syndrome awareness month and, today I went into both boys' classes to talk to them about Williams syndrome. I wanted to focus more on letting the kids know how special and unique each one of them is, instead of just talking about Kieran the entire time. 

I put together a PowerPoint presentation and afterward, we made "DNA" out of Twizzlers, marshmallows, and toothpicks (today was pajama day at school so the boys are wearing their pajamas). The kids seemed to enjoy it, and they also seem to remember stuff from previous years when I've gone into their classes. It was fun! 

This is a transcript of what we talked about (I'm not including all photos I used due to copyright restrictions). We were able to answer questions and discuss throughout a little bit more, but this is the gist of what we talked about.

So, today, we are going to talk about something that is inside the cells of all living things. It’s called deoxyribonucleic acid. Or DNA for short.

So, our bodies are made up of trillions of tiny cells all working together. Take a look at your skin. If we were to take just a little bit of your skin and put it under a microscope, this is what it would look like. Check out all those cells stuck together! They are all working together to keep your covered and keep you safe from things outside your body. 

And this is photo of just one of the cells in your body. Now, these cells are so tiny that we can’t see them just by looking at our skin, but when we put them under a microscope and blow them up really big, this is what it looks like. It’s an amazingly designed piece of machinery. Right here in the middle, is where the DNA lives.

Now, there is SO much DNA in each cell of your body that if you were take the DNA out of just one cell and stretch it out, it would be six feet long! Imagine all of that squished into each cell in your body! That means, if we took all the DNA from all of the cells of your body and put it end-to-end, it would stretch over 12 billion miles. That’s like going to the sun and back many times! Your body is filled with DNA!

Now, here’s an illustration of what scientists have figured out DNA looks like. It’s this amazing twisted molecule that in an amazing way tells you who you are. We get our special combination of DNA from our mom and our dad.

Let’s think about some of the things your DNA says about you. (I let the kids discuss eye color, hair color, how tall you could grow to be, nose shape, ear lobes, handedness, dimples, freckles, curly or straight hair, hand clasping, hairline (widow’s peak), skin shade, eye shape, food preferences, allergies, etc.) Each person is special and unique. Even identical twins have differences due to environmental effects and such. You are each one of a kind. There’s no one else exactly like you! You are special. Look at the person sitting next to you and say, “You are amazing and one-of-a-kind!”

Now, If we were to take out the DNA and sort it out and check it out under a really powerful microscope, this is what we find. Your DNA is bundled into structures called chromosomes. And, although we are all special and unique, we share a lot in common. What are some things we have in common? Two eyes, mouth, breathe air, ears, hair, body shape, arms, legs . . .  In fact, we are more alike than we are different!

So, we all share this number of chromosomes in our bodies. Now, sometimes, something can happen to our DNA so that it is missing a part or maybe there’s an extra piece than most other people have.

So, someone who was created with an extra 21st chromosome has what we call Down syndrome. Can you find the 21^st chromosome?

And our friend Kieran here was created amazingly with a small part of his seventh chromosome missing, and we call this arrangement Williams syndrome (it was named after the scientist who discovered it). It’s very rare that this happens and there just 30,000 people with Williams syndrome in the United States. Who can find the 7^th chromosome?

 With just that small part of DNA missing, that changes some things with people with Williams syndrome. Now remember, we are all more alike than we are different. But some differences that Kieran has, that you’ve probably already noticed are that he is sensitive to sounds. So, what does he do when he hears something that is loud, like the fire alarm? Yes, he puts his hands over his ears. He can also hear things that we can't because his hearing is more sensitive. So, when someone is using a lawnmower outside, Kieran would be able to hear it, even if you can't. And it may distract him.

People with Williams syndrome can also have heart problems. So Kieran has a heart issue called supra-valvular aortic stenosis. And he has to go to the doctor every few years to get it checked. We need to monitor it to make sure it doesn't get any worse. Sometimes people with WS need to have surgery on their heart to fix it. 

But, so far, Kieran's heart has been ok. 

People who have Williams syndrome can have some difficulties with learning. So where maybe math might be really easy for you, it's more difficult for Kieran to learn and remember math facts and things about time and abstract concepts like that.

Everyone who knows Kieran knows that he is what? Yes, he's super friendly. People with Williams syndrome are very friendly. He says hi to everyone! And whenever we go anywhere, he says hi to people he doesn't even know! 

Another thing about people with Williams syndrome is that they tent to love music! Kieran loves listening to music and playing music on different instruments. He has a didgeridoo and a nose flute!

And, when someone is a bit different from us, what can we remember? Each person is special and unique and created just the way they are supposed to be. And we are all more alike than we are different! We can focus on what we have in common, we can help where we might be able to, and we can look for ways to show that everyone is an amazingly designed person! There are no mistakes when it comes to who your are and your DNA. Each person is special and unique and you are just the way you are supposed to be!