Written Assignment: Biology and Technology in the Real World

WrittenAssignment: Biology and Technology in the Real World
Addressescourse 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 (a-e).
2.Find at least three reliable information sources related to your chosen topic.You are encouraged to use the UMGC library in your search:  .
3.Write a paper with title page, introduction, several paragraphs addressing thequestions, conclusion and references. You must write in your own words andparaphrase information from the selected information sources, addressing eachof the questions for your chosen topic. Your paper should consist of less than10% direct quotes. Your paper should be 750-1500 words, excluding referencesand title page. 
UseAPA style for references. Please visit the UMGC Citing and Writing page forcitation, writing and academic integrity help: 
4.Submit your assignment to the Assignment folder by the due date listed in thecourse schedule. The originality of your assignment will be checked withTurnitin. Please review the originality report (), and if needed, submit a revised assignment before thesubmission deadline. 
TopicSelection: 
a) Stem cells. Your friend has suffered aspinal cord injury after a bad car accident. The medical team has decided thathe is a good candidate for a clinical trial using stem cell therapy. Yourfriend has not had a biology course since high school, so you decide to writehim a letter sharing your knowledge of stem cells. Include in your letter a descriptionof 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 for eachtype. Explain how stems cells can be used to treat diseases and injury, withspecial focus on spinal cord injuries. Include information from at least oneresearch study or clinical trial. Conclude with your own opinion. 
b) Geneticallymodified organisms (GMOs). A friend tells youthat she avoids foods containing GMOs because they are unhealthy. You decide touse the knowledge gained from your biology class and some additional researchto form your own opinion on GMOs. Answer the following questions backed up byreliable information sources. What is the purpose of genetically engineering ofcrop plants? Include at least two specific examples of commonly grown GMOcrops. How are GMOs created? Use the provided course materials and make aconnection to the central dogma of molecular biology in your explanation. Whichfoods in your supermarket contain GMOs? Are foods that contain GMOs safe forhuman consumption? How are foods that contain GMOs digested in our digestivetract? What types of regulations exist for these foods? Clearly explain yourreasoning for each answer in your paper and conclude whether or not you agreewith your friend. 
c)Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) has been the most recent breakthrough discovery inbioengineering that enables scientists to edit DNA. Because you have studiedbiology in this course, you have volunteered at your nieces Middle SchoolScience Club to monitor a student debate about CRISPR. The students will bewatching the following video before the discussion:  andyou need to be prepared in case there are any questions. Please researchand write an answer to each of the following questions: What is CRISPR? Whatrole does Cas9 play in the CRISPR process? How does the CRISPR-Cas9 system snipand replace any DNA sequence? What are the potential benefits and drawbacks ofgene editing? Include specific examples. Do you believe that theinherent risks of modifying animal DNA is worth the rewards? Explain.Do you believe that it is ethical to genetically engineer humans and/oranimals? Explain.
d) Vaccines. Your friend is worried aboutthe many vaccines that his newborn son is scheduled to receive and asks you foradvice since you are taking a biology course. Start with an explanation of howvaccines work. Briefly contrast the traditional methods used to create vaccineswith more recently used biotechnology techniques. Then list some of thediseases that babies and children in the US are routinely vaccinated against.How has vaccinations impacted the frequency of these diseases over the past 100years? Why are some people worried about giving their children vaccines? Isthere scientific evidence to support these concerns? Conclude with advice toyour friend in regard to getting the recommended vaccines based on what youlearned from reliable information sources. 
e) Fracking(hydraulic fracturing) and tar sands (oil sands).  With society’s dependence on nonrenewable fossil fuels,the oil & gas industry is turning to hydraulic fracturing and tar (oil)sands to extract natural gas and oil.  A friend asks you”What’s all this controversy in the news about fracking and tarsands?”  Briefly explain to your friend how hydraulicfracturing and tar (oil) sands are used to obtain these fossil fuels.Then, in more detail, describe the environmental problems that may result fromthese processes and why they are controversial. Issues that should beaddressed involves water, air and soil pollution with special focus on globalclimate change, effects on human health, and effects on other species andnatural ecosystems. Finally, give your opinions on possible solutions to theseenvironmental problems, with your reasoning backed by informationfrom reliable information sources.