Biology in the Real World

Addresses the following course goals and objectives:

use knowledge of biological principles to ask relevant questions about the natural world

make observations and discriminate between scientific and pseudoscientific explanations

1. Select one of the following topics:

2. Find articles 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 two pages, double spaced, excluding references. You must read the articles that you find and summarize the information they contain briefly in your own words. Extensive quotes from the article are discouraged. This assignment demonstrates the acceptable, ethical, and academic method for citing information from a public source. You may not use online encyclopedias as a source more than once. Use APA style for citing references (see http://www.umuc.edu/library/guides/apa.html).

4. Post your assignment to your Assignments folder.

a) Genetically modified food. What is the purpose of human-made genetic recombinations in food? Are foods that contain genes resulting from artificial genetic recombinations really safe? What foods in your supermarket result from genetic recombination? What types of regulations exist for these foods? (For example, you might search the Food and Drug Administration website.) Clearly explain your reasoning for each answer.

b) Stem cells. A relative of a friend of yours had a spinal cord injury after a bad car accident. The medical team has decided that this patient 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 are going to write for him or her a two-page discussion of stem cell information. In your discussion, include a description of the biology of stem cells, and explain how these cells are unique in their ability to treat diseases and injury. The following website from NIH regarding stem cell research will be very helpful: http://stemcells.nih.gov/index.asp.

c) Medical marijuana. You are terminally ill with colon cancer, and you live in a state where the medical use of marijuana is illegal. Write a letter to your state legislator addressing five arguments as to why marijuana should be legalized in your state for medical use. Each argument should be supported by your research.

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