Tentative Schedule
During the semester,
we will
be covering
what I deem to be essential information about how science is done, and
basic biological principals of genetics, ecology and evolution.
Transgenic (or genetically modified) crops, their development and
their use will be the thread that ties these diverse topics together.
In
the latter portion of the course, we will work on specific topics and
studies examining the potential environmental consequences of planting
transgenic crops. This section of the semester will also provide
you with help developing your term-paper topic.
The required readings are either in Pease and Bull, are on line in the
links in the syllabus, or have been placed
on e-reserve in the
library. You can download them onto your computer, or print them,
by going to the library
web
page, clicking on "course
reserves" (upper bar), and choosing Bio 009 from the scroll-down list.
| Date |
Topic |
readings / Assignment |
| Aug 27 (Monday) |
Introduction to the course |
Science for Business, Law and
the Liberal Arts (Pease & Bull) chapter 1 |
| Aug 29 |
Process of Science: how
science is done |
Pease & Bull chapter 2 |
| Aug 31 |
Demonstration and discussion:
The scientific method in the "real" world, aka. "trial and error" |
Pease & Bull chapter 3 Discussion: examples of your use of the scientific method |
| Sept 3 |
no class |
|
| Sept 5 |
Discussion of plant breeding and
human history. |
J. Diamond: The worst
mistake in human history Write a one paragraph opinion of the article (3-5 sentences). Sign-up to meet with me. |
| Sept 7 |
What is a model? Study organisms as models |
Pease & Bull chapter 4 mice and medicine |
| Sept. 10 add/drop deadline |
Modern genetics, an overview of
a central model in biology. |
The structure
of DNA: ribbon
model, legos,
space-filling
model Overview of basic genetic principles: tour "the basics", "build" a DNA model Meeting schedule |
| Sept 12 |
Will my corn be sweet?
Solving genetics problems |
Tutorials: monohybrid
and dihybrid
crosses |
| Sept 14 |
Genes at work:
transcription and translation |
Hofstadter: "The genetic
code: Arbitrary?" Questions to guide reading Transcribe a gene, read about proteins. |
| Sept 17 |
Review for Quiz Quiz 1, through Friday's material |
Study
problems for quiz |
| Sept 19 |
How are genetically modified crops made? | What are transgenic
crops? Crops currently grown commercially in the US |
| Sept 21 |
Models in science: Hypotheses as models |
Pease & Bull chapter 5 Prakash "Genetically modified crop debate in the context of agricultural evolution": read the introduction. |
| Sept 24 |
Open discussion: models
and hypotheses |
Prakash, introduction: record 10 statements of hypothesis. |
| Sept 26 |
Presentation #1:
testable
hypotheses |
Prakash, introduction:
choose three testable hypotheses to discuss; you will present only 1 |
| Sept 28 | Ideal data: how scientists
should test models |
Pease & Bull chapter 10 |
| Oct 1 |
Correlation and causation |
Pease & Bull chapter 16 |
| Oct 3 |
What does "control" mean in
science Discussion of term paper assignment |
Pease & Bull chapter 18 Term paper assignment |
| Oct 5 |
Presentation #2:
Controlled and uncontrolled variables, experiments and observations |
Using an hypothesis from
Prakash's article (presentation 1), find at least 3 variables that must
be controlled for to properly test the idea. Would you use
experiments or observational studies to test this hypothesis? |
| Oct 8 | Presentations, continued |
Attendance is required even if you have already presented. |
| Oct 10 | Why random? A
demonstration and discussion |
Pease & Bull chapter 11 Randomization Simple random samples |
| Oct 12 | Open discussion: were all
variables in this experiment properly controlled or randomized? |
Losey, Rayor & Carter
"Transgenic corn pollen harms monarch larvae" Record three variables in the article and determine whether each was manipulated, controlled for, or randomized. |
| Oct 15 | Discussion: should reporters be more critical of scientific studies? | Yoon "Altered crop may imperil
butterfly, study says" Pollack "Data on genetically modified corn" |
| Oct 17 | Review for quiz 2 Quiz 2, through Monday's material |
Quiz
2 Study problems |
| Oct 19 | Ecology, Part 1: food webs
and energy pyramids |
Overview:
read "roles of organisms", "energy flow", "food chains" and "pyramids" Do-it-yourself exercise biomagnification |
| Oct 22 | Presentation #3: Term paper topics | To hand in: three
possible
term paper topics with a brief statement of the importance of each (see term paper assignment). |
| Oct 24 | Presentations, continued | Attendance is required even if you have already presented. |
| Oct 26 | Ecology, part 2: population growth | Read, then run exponential and logistic population growth models, using "graph" option |
| Oct 29 | Ecology part 3: the interdependence of organisms | Knight et al., "Trophic cascades
across ecosystems" Questions to guide reading |
| Oct 31 | Designing ecological experiments Revision of hypotheses: hand in 3 hypotheses with a brief statement of the importance of each. |
Stevens, "Are gene-altered
plants an ecological threat? Test is devised" Crawley et al., "Transgenic crops in natural habitats" Stokstad & Vogel, "Mixed message could prove costly for GM crops" |
| Nov 2 | Open discussion; ecological impact of GM crops | Ellstrand "When transgenes
wander, should we worry?" Pollack "Can transgenic crops be good neighbors" |
| Nov 5 | Evolution part 1:
introduction Term paper topic choice due |
Read Evolution
101, "Introduction" and "The history of life (through "trees
not
ladders"), and "Mechanisms, the process of evolution: Descent
with modification" Additional information: human evolution (multimedia documentary) To hand in: term paper topic, a brief statement of its importance, and a related testable hypothesis (see term paper assignment). |
| Nov 7 | Library research | meet at the library |
| Nov 9 | Evolution part 2: driving forces | Reading Evolution 101through "Mechanisms, the process of evolution: Natural selection", "Natural selection at work", and "Misconceptions about natural selection". Take the side trip "Survival of the 'fit enough'" |
| Nov 12 | Open discussion: what
factors influence evolution? Is transgenic technology an evolutionary force? |
Vacher
et al., "Impact of
ecological factors on the initial invasion of Bt transgenes into wild
populations"; read abstract, introduction and discussion. To hand in: full bibliographic information for three articles relevant to your term paper |
| Nov 14 | Review for quiz 3 Quiz 3, through Monday's class. |
Study problems for quiz 3. |
| Nov 16 |
Human health risks of transgenic
crops: should we be worried? |
Pease
& Bull chapter 22 Prakash: "Historical absense of zero risk" Pickrell, "U.K. government panel gives GM crops cautious support" Union of Concerned Scientists, overview |
| Nov 19-23 | Thanksgiving break |
|
| Nov 26 | Vermont Farmer's thoughts on
transgenics |
Readings (reading guidelines) Pollack: "We can engineer nature. But should we?" Monsanto's contract with growers, annotated. Witness testimony: Rural Vermont Director, Dairy Farmer, Seed Growers Association. Vermont Farm Protection Act, outline and full text |
| Nov 28 |
Presentation 4: Research protocols | To hand in: term paper
protocol section |
| Nov 30 |
Presentations, continued | Attendance is required even if you have already presented. |
| Dec 3 |
Transgenic technology in medicine | Gene
therapy: an overview at the Human Genome Project New Scientist: Gene therapy cures "bubble boy" (3 April 2002) New Scientist: "Miracle" gene therapy trial halted (3 October 2002) |
| Dec 5 |
final discussion: Has your perception of transgenic technology changed this semester? | Term papers due. No final exam. |