Biology and Technology in the Real World
Written Assignment: Biology and Technology in the Real World
Addresses course outcomes 2 and 3:use knowledge of biological principles to ask relevant questions about the natural worldmake observations and discriminate between scientific and pseudoscientific explanations1. Select one of the topics listed below.2. Find at least two information sources related to the topic. You can find assistance with searching forarticles 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 informationsources that you find and summarize the information in your own words, addressing each of thequestions and expectations for your chosen topic. Extensive quotes from the article are discouraged. UseAPA style for citing references, see http://www.umuc.edu/library/guides/apa.html.4. Post your assignment to your Assignments folder by the due date listed in the course schedule.Topics (select one)a) Genetically modified organisms (GMOs). What is the purpose genetic engineering of crop plants anddomestic animals? Briefly explain how GMOs are created. What foods in your supermarket containGMOs? Are foods that contain GMOs safe for human consumption? What types of regulations exist forthese 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 decidedthat he is a good candidate for a clinical trial using stem cell therapy. Your friend has not had a biologycourse 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 othercells. Contrast the different types of stem cells, including pros and cons of each. Explain how stems cellsare can be used to treat diseases and injury, with special focus on spinal cord injuries. Conclude withyour own opinion.c) Fracking (hydraulic fracturing) and tar sands (oil sands). With society’s dependence on nonrenewablefossil fuels, the oil & gas industry is turning to the use of hydraulic fracturing and tar (oil) sands to extractnatural gas and oil respectively. A friend asks you “What’s all this controversy in the news about frackingand tar sands?” Briefly explain to your friend how hydraulic fracturing and tar (oil) sands are used toobtain these fossil fuels. Then, in more detail, describe the environmental problems that may result fromthese processes and why they are controversial. Issues that may be addressed involves, but are notlimited to, water, air and soil pollution, effects on human health, effects on other species and naturalecosystems. Finally, give your opinions on possible solutions to these environmental problems, with yourreasoning backed by the references that you studied.
