Written Assignment: Biology and Technology in the Real World
Addresses course outcomes 1-4:
recognize and explain how the scientific method is used to solve problems
make observations and discriminate between scientific and pseudoscientific explanations
weigh evidence and make decisions based on strengths and limitations of scientific knowledge and the scientific method
use knowledge of biological principles, the scientific method, andappropriate technologies to ask relevant questions, develop hypotheses,design and conduct experiments, interpret results, and draw conclusions
1. Select one of the topics listed below (a-e).
2. Find at least three reliable information sources related to yourchosen topic. You are encouraged to use the UMUC library in your search:http://libguides.umuc.edu/science.
3. Write a paper with title page, introduction, several paragraphsaddressing the questions, conclusion and references. You must write inyour own words and paraphrase information from the selected informationsources, addressing each of the questions for your chosen topic. Yourpaper should consist of less than 10% direct quotes. Your paper shouldbe 750-1500 words, excluding references and title page. Use APA stylefor references: https://www.umuc.edu/library/libhow/apa_tutorial.cfm
4. Submit your assignment to the Assignment folder by the due date listed in the course schedule.
a) Stem cells. Your friend has suffered a spinal cordinjury after a bad car accident. The medical team has decided that he isa good candidate for a clinical trial using stem cell therapy. Yourfriend has not had a biology course since high school, so you decide towrite him a letter sharing your knowledge of stem cells. Include in yourletter a description of the biology of stem cells and how these cellsare unique from other cells. Contrast the different types of stem cells,including pros and cons for each type. Explain how stems cells can beused to treat diseases and injury, with special focus on spinal cordinjuries. Include information from at least one research study orclinical trial. Conclude with your own opinion.
b) Genetically modified organisms (GMOs). A friend tells youthat she avoids foods containing GMOs because they are unhealthy. Youdecide to use the knowledge gained from your biology class and someadditional research to form your own opinion on GMOs. Answer thefollowing questions backed up by reliable information sources. What isthe purpose of genetically engineering of crop plants? Include at leasttwo specific examples of commonly grown GMO crops. How are GMOs created?Use the provided course materials and make a connection to the centraldogma of molecular biology in your explanation. Which foods in yoursupermarket contain GMOs? Are foods that contain GMOs safe for humanconsumption? What types of regulations exist for these foods? Clearlyexplain your reasoning for each answer in your paper and concludewhether or not you agree with your friend.
c) Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)has been the most recent breakthrough discovery in bioengineering thatenables scientists to edit DNA. Because you have studied biology in thiscourse, you have volunteered at your niece’s Middle School Science Clubto monitor a student debate about CRISPR. The students will be watchingthe following video before the discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=252&v=2pp17E4E-O8 andyou need to be prepared in case there are any questions. Pleaseresearch and write an answer to each of the following questions: What is”CRISPR”? What role does Cas9 play in the CRISPR process? How does theCRISPR-Cas9 system snip and replace any DNA sequence? What are thepotential benefits and drawbacks of gene editing? Include specificexamples. Do you believe that the inherent risks of modifying animalDNA is worth the rewards? Explain. Do you believe that it is ethical togenetically engineer humans and/or animals? Explain.
d) Vaccines. Your friend is worried about the manyvaccines that his newborn son is scheduled to receive and asks you foradvice since you are taking a biology course. Start with an explanationof how vaccines work. Briefly contrast the traditional methods used tocreate vaccines with more recently used biotechnology techniques. Thenlist some of the diseases that babies and children in the US areroutinely vaccinated against. How has vaccinations impacted thefrequency of these diseases over the past 100 years? Why are some peopleworried about giving their children vaccines? Is there scientificevidence to support these concerns? Conclude with advice to your friendin regard to getting the recommended vaccines based on what you learnedfrom reliable information sources.
e) Fracking (hydraulic fracturing) and tar sands (oil sands). Withsociety’s dependence on nonrenewable fossil fuels, the oil & gasindustry is turning to hydraulic fracturing and tar (oil) sandsto extract natural gas and oil. A friend asks you “What’s all thiscontroversy in the news about fracking and tar sands?” Briefly explainto your friend how hydraulic fracturing and tar (oil) sands are used toobtain these fossil fuels. Then, in more detail, describe theenvironmental problems that may result from these processes and why theyare controversial. Issues that should be addressed involves water, airand soil pollution with special focus on global climate change, effectson human health, and effects on other species and natural ecosystems.Finally, give your opinions on possible solutions to these environmentalproblems, with your reasoning backed by information from reliableinformation sources.
Please review grading rubric.
