Honors General Biology, Fall 2007

HONR 1001-880

Tuesdays, 3:30 – 4:45, Library N424A

 

Michael Breed

michael.breed@colorado.edu

Ramaley N333

303-492-7687

Office Hours: Mondays, 11-12

Tuesdays, 9:30-11

 

The honors section of general biology provides you with an opportunity to

delve more deeply into the subject material covered in EBIO 1210. We will read and discuss articles that relate the material discussed in lecture to contemporary societal issues.

 

Two writing assignments will help you focus on specific topics of interest to you. You may choose the topics; the only restriction is that the papers must relate to the content of first semester general biology.   The general format is that of an argumentative essay—you should have a point of view about your subject and be able to develop supporting evidence for your point of view. The papers will be 3-5 pages long (double spaced, 10 or 12 point font) and will typically use 3-10 references, and should be sent to me electronically (as an email attachment) in MSWord format.  I¹ll provide extensive feedback on the first paper and you¹ll hand in a revised version based on the feedback.

 

For each class period one or two students will initiate the discussion with 5-10 minute presentations of more in-depth material.

 

Café Scientifique: You should consider attending at least one Café Scientifique. Café Scientifique meets one Tuesday each month, 5:30 PM, at Redfish on 13th Street (just off the Pearl St. Mall). Details will be presented in class.

 

One or more field trip opportunities will be announced.

 

Date:                                                Topic:

 

Aug 31                                            Introduction

 

Sept 4                                              Artificial and synthetic life

 

Sept 11                                          How promising are stem cells, really?

 

Sept 18                                          How to use Chinook: library research

 

Sept 25                                          Global warming and hurricanes

First paper topic due

 

Oct 2                                                 Emerging diseases

 

Oct 9                                                 Diet, metabolism, behavior, and genetics: why do we gain weight and how can you construct a ³healthy² diet?

                                                               First paper due

 

Oct 16                                             Is organic food really better for you?

 

Oct 23                                             Gender differences: real or not?

                                                            Rewrite of first paper due

 

Oct 30                                             Is it ethical to ³correct² human genetic material?  Where is the line drawn between medicine and eugenics?

 

Nov 6                                               Environmental estrogens and human development; how concerned should we be?

 

Nov 13                                            Designer personalities: Is it right to medically manipulate personality?

 

Nov 20                                            Should you be able to patent life? 

 

Nov 27                                            Thanksgiving week--no class

 

Dec 4                                               Human population growth: What¹s the limit?

 

                                                               Second paper due

 

Dec 11                                            Summary discussion and overview