Solved by a verified expert: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 for articles at the UMUC Library Subject Guides at http://libguides.umuc.edu/science.3. Write a 750-1500
page 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 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 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. The following website from FDA regarding GMO
regulation may be helpful: http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm352067.htmb) 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. The following website from NIH regarding stem cell research
will be very helpful: http://stemcells.nih.gov/index.asp.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. The following websites from EPA may be helpful: http://www2.epa.gov/hydraulicfracturing
Recent Comments