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, and appropriate technologies to ask relevant questions, develop hypotheses, design and conduct experiments, interpret results, and draw conclusions
1. Select one of the topics listed below.
2. Find at least three information sources related to the topic. You can find assistance with searching for articles at the UMUC Library Subject Guides at http://libguides.umuc.edu/science.
3. Write a 750-1500 word paper, excluding references and title page. You must read the information sources that you find and summarize the information in your own words, addressing each of the questions and expectations for your chosen topic. Extensive quotes from the article are discouraged. Use APA style for citing references, see https://www.umuc.edu/library/libhow/apa_tutorial.cfm
4. Post your assignment to the Assignment folder by the due date listed in the course schedule.
Topics (select one from the list below or from the expanded list of topics posted on November 16th in the announcements section)
a) Genetically modified organisms (GMOs). What is the purpose genetic engineering of crop plants and domestic animals? Briefly explain how GMOs are created. What foods in your supermarket contain GMOs? Are foods that contain GMOs safe for human consumption? What types of regulations exist for these foods? Clearly explain your reasoning for each answer.
b) Stem cells. Your friend had a spinal cord injury after a bad car accident. The medical team has decided that he is a good candidate for a clinical trial using stem cell therapy. Your friend has not had a biology course since high school, so you decide to write him a letter sharing your knowledge of stem cells. Include in your letter a description of the biology of stem cells and how these cells are unique from other cells. Contrast the different types of stem cells, including pros and cons of each. Explain how stems cells are can be used to treat diseases and injury, with special focus on spinal cord injuries. Conclude with your own opinion.
c) Fracking (hydraulic fracturing) and tar sands (oil sands). With society's dependence on nonrenewable fossil fuels, the oil & gas industry is turning to the use of hydraulic fracturing and tar (oil) sands to extract natural gas and oil respectively. A friend asks you "What's all this controversy in the news about fracking and tar sands?" Briefly explain to your friend how hydraulic fracturing and tar (oil) sands are used to obtain these fossil fuels. Then, in more detail, describe the environmental problems that may result from these processes and why they are controversial. Issues that may be addressed involves, but are not limited to, water, air and soil pollution, effects on human health, effects on other species and natural ecosystems. Finally, give your opinions on possible solutions to these environmental problems, with your reasoning backed by the references that you studied.
Stem cells are a class of undifferentiated cells that are able to differentiate into specialized cell types. There are three different sources of autologous adult stem cells including bone marrow, adipose tissue and blood umbilical cord cells.
Embryonic stem cells come from a five to six-day-old embryo. The embryonic germ cells are derived from the part of a human embryo or foetus that will ultimately produce gametes (eggs or sperm). Adult stem cells are undifferentiated cells found among specialized (differentiated) cells in a tissue or organ after birth. Umbilical cord blood stem cells are used to treat a range of blood disorders and immune system conditions.
Stroke and traumatic brain injury leads to cell death. It is characterized by a loss of neurons and oligodendrocytes within the brain. Healthy adult brains contain neural stem cells which divide to maintain general stem cell numbers, or become progenitor cells. Stem cells may also be used to treat brain degeneration, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.
The stem cells have a tangible application in the spinal cord injury. The stem cells are able to induce the neurogenesis by regenerating the affected portion of the brain matrix and spinal cord. It might restore the lost or impaired neuron connections and formation of the new neuronal connections that will speed up the brain reactions through improvement of the synaptic transmission and the development of the new neuronal connections. The multiple paranoiac factors and the interleukins secreted by the stem cells will contribute to the endogenous repair.
Written Assignment: Biology and Technology in the Real World Addresses course outcomes 1-4: recognize and explain...
Have you ever considered how we come to understand the world around us? Think about that question for a minute. What is science, and how do we use it to solve real-world problems? In our first discussion, I want to delve into thinking about the nature of biology. This includes what it is, the major themes, and how we come to form claims or knowledge. You should spend approximately 3 hours on this assignment. Instructions Use the text readings and...