Question 1

Personal habits and individual choices can impact a person’s risk of developing cancer. What are some lifestyle changes that could be made to decrease a person’s risk of developing cancer.

Question 2

examine cellular interactions to recognize contributive factors to mental and physical being;

Question 3

In many areas where WHO works, there are many illnesses caused by different types of microorganisms. Understanding the field of microbiology will help you to sort out the harmful and beneficial effects of microorganisms. Think about what you already know about microbes. Are they all bad? See if you can think of beneficial and harmful microorganisms. What tools would you need to identify microorganisms that cause disease?

Question 4

Trace the history of microbiology, choose one scientist, what did this scientist discover, and how did it impact the human life?

Question 5

Please watch the following short video regarding the chain of infection.

After watching the video, briefly discuss the chain of infection for the following examples, indicating the following; what type of pathogen is this, what disease does it cause, mode of transmission of this pathogen, and does it need a vector for transmission?

1. E. coli
2. Toxoplasma gondii
3. Plasmodium falciparum
4. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
5. Influenza virus
6. Histoplasma capsulatum

 

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Synthetic chromosomes, Transcriptomes, and Patents on BRCA genes”

For your primary post, please respond to one of the following three topics with a post of at least 125 words that addresses each point given in the instructions. Also, please reply to at least one fellow student on any topic.

Topic 1 [videos]:  It’s parent was a computer file. Watch the short video about organism with the synthetic chromosome that was created at the Craig Venter Institute (1)* and the video about the “streamlined” version that organism(2)*.   Subsequently, answer the following:

• (a) How does the DNA in the synthetic organisms differ from DNA in naturally-occurring microorganisms?
• (b) What do you think we’ve learned from these experiments?
• (c) In your opinion, what are the inherent risks of this research to human health or to the environment, if any?

Topic 2 [article]: Transcriptomes. The complete set of all DNA in a cell is called the genome. The complete set of all the mRNA in a cell is called the transcriptome. Read the following article about the transcriptome (1)*, then address the following:

• (a)  What does the transcriptome tell us that we can’t get from the genome? 
• (b)  If we compare the transcriptome between cells that have completely different functions in the body, how do you think they would compare?
• (c) Explain how this concept relates to our lesson on gene expression from Chapter 7.

Topic 3 [research]: Patent protection for BRCA genes. On the Internet, read one or more articles about how the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruled in the caseof Association for Molecular Pathology versus Myriad Genetics. In your answer, you must give credit to your source(s). Your answer must address the following:

• (a) Describe some of the major reasons why the plaintiffs objected to Myriad’s patent on the breast cancer-related genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2.
• (b) Describe the SCOTUS ruling regarding naturally-occuring DNA sequences, as well as their ruling regarding DNA sequences that do not exist in Nature.

Note: the rulings of lower courts are NOTof interest for our purposes. Please concentrate only on SCOTUS’s ruling. The objective here is to emphasize the precedent-setting ruling of the highest court (SCOTUS), rather than to recount the litigation history. 

• (c) What is your view on the issue of whether we should allow human genes to be patented?
• Be absolutely sure that you cite your sources, and list your references. 

 

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BIOTECHNOLOGY PAPER. This quarter, you will complete a project which will culminate in a 5–6 page paper on an established or emerging biotechnology. The project covers both the biological basis of the technology, as well as its benefits, drawbacks, and ethical aspects. The project is broken down into four stages, with deliverables due at each stage. In the final stage, you will combine your previous work, edited according to the feedback you’ve received, into one coherent final paper.  Assignment 1: Biotechnology Article – This first assignment, and the entire project, begins with your selection of one article about a particular biotechnology. Subsequent assignments will build on this first assignment, and thus extend your research on the same biotechnology. In Assignment 1, you will summarize the article you’ve chosen (your “target article”), and address some additional issues about how your article relates to the course, to your life, and to the funding of ongoing research.  Assignment 2: Biological basis – In the second assignment, you will explain what your chosen biotechnology accomplishes and how it is implemented, and describe the body of knowledge that it is based upon. Your overall goal in this assignment is to show that you understand the underlying science behind the technology.  Assignment 3: Benefits, Drawbacks and Ethical Aspects – In the third assignment, you will look at your technology in more depth to analyze the pros and cons, and to also consider any ethical issues that arise from the technology.  Assignment 4: Biotech paper – You will pull this final paper together using edited pieces from Assignments 1, 2, and 3, along with an additional section providing your personal viewpoint and summation. The result should be a coherent paper on the biotechnology you’ve chosen. Assignment 1: Biotechnology Article Due Week 3 and worth 80 points Assignment 1 is the first phase of a project that you will complete, in stages, during the term. You will begin by selecting a specific biotechnology that you would like to cover through the entire project. It can be an established technology, such as genetically-modified crops, or an emerging technology, such as CRISPR. The choice of biotechnology is up to you, but consider selecting something that relates to your major, career, or personal interests. CRJ students might consider an established or an emerging biotechnology for crime scene investigation. BUS students might consider a technology that will provide an opportunity to explore bringing new biotech products and services to market or the ethical considerations around marketing biotech to consumers. Choose one magazine or newspaper article that covers the specific technology that you will use throughout the project. It must be a recent article (no more than four years old). For instance, if you choose genetically-modified crops as your biotechnology, then you would need to select one recent article about genetically-modified crops for this assignment. Some biotechnologies that you may want to consider include:  Genetically modified crop plants  Genetically modified microorganisms (such as yeasts and bacteria for industry)  Genetically modified animals  Personal genomics for humans (also called personalized medicine or precision medicine)  Gene therapy  CRISPR  Emerging forensic uses of DNA (such as facial prediction)  Databases for DNA fingerprinting Write a one to two (1–2) page paper in which you: 1. Summarize the article in one (1) or more paragraphs, using your own words. Be sure to identify the article using an in-text citation in the body of the paper, as well as a reference in the reference section. 2. Identify which biological concepts from the course and / or text are relevant to the topic covered in the article. Citing the course text, discuss the ways in which this course does (or doesn’t) provide background information to help you understand the article and the larger issues surrounding it. 3. Explain why the article caught your attention. Relate the article to your life and to issues that are important to you. Discuss how or if the scientific knowledge about the topic covered in the article affects you directly or indirectly. 4. Discuss your opinion on how research on this topic should be funded. State whether you think taxpayer monies should support research on this topic or whether such research in this area should be funded by the private sector. Rate the importance of research on this topic, relative to other areas of research. In addition to the target article, you should use at least one (1) additional resource, such as your textbook or another article. Remember: an edited version of this assignment is going to be part of the larger paper that you write at the completion of the project. You must have a reference section which contains an SWS reference to your chosen article and all other sources, if any. Additionally, you must provide in-text citations (in SWS format) to your references at appropriate places in the body of the text. Integrate all sources into your paper using proper techniques of quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing, along with your in-text citations. Double-space your paper. Use standard margins and fonts. Also, follow any additional formatting instructions provided by your instructor. A large portion of the grading of this assignment is based upon the coherence, depth, and accuracy of your writing. Objectives evaluated by this assessment: 1. Categorize a wide range of organisms, from single-celled to multi-celled organisms. 2. Describe how organisms acquire and utilize both energy and material. 3. Describe the cell cycle, cell reproduction, and control. 4. Investigate DNA and gene expression as well as technologies based on our understanding of them. 5. Discuss interactions between organisms in ecosystems. Points: 80 Assignment 1: Biotechnology Article Criteria Unacceptable Below 60% F Meets Minimum Expectations 60-69% D Fair 70-79% C Proficient 80-89% B Exemplary 90-100% A 1. Summarize the article in one (1) or more paragraphs, using your own words. Weight: 25% Did not submit or did not fully or accurately summarize the article. Student did not use own words. Insufficiently summarized the article in one (1) or more paragraphs, using mostly his or her own words. Partially summarized the article in one (1) or more paragraphs, using mostly his or her own words. Satisfactorily summarized the article in one (1) or more paragraphs, using entirely his or her own words. Thoroughly summarized the article in one (1) or more paragraphs, using mostly his or her own words. 2. Identify which biological Did not submit or did not fully or accurately Insufficiently identified which biological Partially identified which biological Satisfactorily identified which biological Thoroughly identified which biological  concepts from the course and / or text are relevant to the topic covered in the article. Weight: 25% identify which biological concepts from the course and / or text are relevant to the topic covered in the article. concepts from the course and / or text are relevant to the topic covered in the article. concepts from the course and / or text are relevant to the topic covered in the article. concepts from the course and / or text are relevant to the topic covered in the article. concepts from the course and / or text are relevant to the topic covered in the article. 3. Explain why the article caught your attention. Relate the article to your life and to issues that are important to you. Weight: 20% Did not submit or incompletely explained why the article caught your attention and related the article to your life and to issues that are important to you. Insufficiently explained why the article caught your attention and related the article to your life and to issues that are important to you. Partially explained why the article caught your attention and related the article to your life and to issues that are important to you. Satisfactorily explained why the article caught your attention and related the article to your life and to issues that are important to you. Thoroughly explained why the article caught your attention and related the article to your life and to issues that are important to you. 4. Discuss your opinion on how research on this topic should be funded. Weight: 20% Did not submit or incompletely discussed opinion on how research on this topic should be funded. Insufficiently discussed opinion on how research on this topic should be funded. Partially discussed opinion on how research on this topic should be funded. Satisfactorily discussed opinion on how research on this topic should be funded. Thoroughly discussed opinion on how research on this topic should be funded. 5. Application of the SWS standards for citation. Weight: 5% Lack of in-text citations and / or lack of reference section. In-text citations and references are given, but not in SWS format. In-text citations and references are provided, but they are only partially formatted correctly in SWS style. Most in-text citations and references are provided, and they are generally formatted correctly in SWS style. In-text citations and references are error free or almost error free and consistently formatted correctly in SWS style. 6. Use of proper written mechanics. Weight: 5% Student did not submit the assignment or there are so many errors that work is confusing to read. Multiple errors (7-8) in grammar and mechanics. Several errors (5-6) in grammar and mechanics. A few errors (3- 4) in grammar and mechanics. Minimal (0-2) errors in grammar and mechanics. 

Assignment 1 is the first phase of a project that you will complete, in stages, during the term. You will begin by selecting a specific biotechnology that you would like to cover through the entire project. It can be an established technology, such as genetically-modified crops, or an emerging technology, such as CRISPR. The choice of biotechnology is up to you, but consider selecting something that relates to your major, career, or personal interests. 

CRJ students might consider an established or an emerging biotechnology for crime scene investigation. BUS students might consider a technology that will provide an opportunity to explore bringing new biotech products and services to market or the ethical considerations around marketing biotech to consumers. 

Choose one magazine or newspaper article that covers the specific technology that you will use throughout the project. It must be a recent article (no more than four years old). For instance, if you choose genetically-modified crops as your biotechnology, then you would need to select one recent article about genetically-modified crops for this assignment.

Some biotechnologies that you may want to consider include:

• Genetically modified crop plants
• Genetically modified microorganisms (such as yeasts and bacteria for industry)
• Genetically modified animals
• Personal genomics for humans (also called personalized medicine or precision medicine)
• Gene therapy
• CRISPR
• Emerging forensic uses of DNA (such as facial prediction)
• Databases for DNA fingerprinting

Write a one to two (1–2) page paper in which you:

1. Summarize the article in one (1) or more paragraphs, using your own words. Be sure to identify the article using an in-text citation in the body of the paper, as well as a reference in the reference section. 
2. Identify which biological concepts from the course and / or text are relevant to the topic covered in the article. Citing the course text, discuss the ways in which this course does (or doesn’t) provide background information to help you understand the article and the larger issues surrounding it. 
3. Explain why the article caught your attention. Relate the article to your life and to issues that are important to you. Discuss how or if the scientific knowledge about the topic covered in the article affects you directly or indirectly.
4. Discuss your opinion on how research on this topic should be funded. State whether you think taxpayer monies should support research on this topic or whether such research in this area should be funded by the private sector. Rate the importance of research on this topic, relative to other areas of research.

In addition to the target article, you should use at least one (1) additional resource, such as your textbook or another article.  Remember: an edited version of this assignment is going to be part of the larger paper that you write at the completion of the project.

You must have a reference section which contains an SWS reference to your chosen article and all other sources, if any. Additionally, you must provide in-text citations (in SWS format) to your references at appropriate places in the body of the text. Integrate all sources into your paper using proper techniques of quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing, along with your in-text citations. Double-space your paper. Use standard margins and fonts. Also, follow any additional formatting instructions provided by your instructor.

A large portion of the grading of this assignment is based upon the coherence, depth, and accuracy of your writing. 

Objectives evaluated by this assessment:

1. Categorize a wide range of organisms, from single-celled to multi-celled organisms.
2. Describe how organisms acquire and utilize both energy and material.
3. Describe the cell cycle, cell reproduction, and control.
4. Investigate DNA and gene expression as well as technologies based on our understanding of them.
5. Discuss interactions between organisms in ecosystems.

Continuing on the research that you started in Week 3, explain what your chosen biotechnology accomplishes and how it is implemented, and describe the body of knowledge that it is based upon. The detailed guidelines are as follows:

• Begin with a description of the biotechnology and what it accomplishes. Then, explain whether it involves manipulating the DNA (or RNA) of an organism, or simply utilizing the DNA (or RNA) that is already there naturally.
• Provide a full and complete description of exactly how the technology works.   
  • If your technology involves manipulating the DNA of an organism, then you should explain how that is accomplished. Depending on the specific technology, adding DNA to cells is often accomplished with a vector, such as a virus or bacterium, but there are mechanical means as well, such as microinjection or use of a “gene gun.”
  • If your technology involves interpreting the DNA in an organism (as one might do for personalized medicine), explain how that is accomplished. What are the means of collecting a sample? How is the sample processed? What exactly is being analyzed to generate the interpretation?
• Discuss the key biological principles that underlie the technology. Many of them are based on an understanding of genes and how they are expressed. Other technologies may be based on the concept of the genome, transcriptome, or proteome. Others are based on an understanding of non-coding DNA (such as the short-tandem repeats used in DNA fingerprinting). Many are based on an understanding of DNA replication, as well as basic heredity.

The expected length is a proxy for how much detail to go into. Go into enough detail to get at least one page of double-spaced text (about 300 words), but not much more than two pages of double-spaced text (about 600 words).  Your overall goal in this assignment is to show the instructor that you understand the underlying science behind the technology.

You must have a reference section which contains an SWS reference to your chosen article and all other sources. Additionally, you must provide in-text citations (in SWS format) to your references in the body of the text. Integrate all sources into your paper using proper techniques of quoting, paraphrasing and summarizing, along with your in-text citations. Double-space your paper. Use standard margins and fonts. Also, follow any additional formatting instructions provided by your instructor.

A large portion of the grading of this assignment is based upon the coherence, depth, and accuracy of your writing.

Objectives evaluated by this assessment:

1. Categorize a wide range of organisms, from single-celled to multi-celled organisms.
2. Describe how organisms acquire and utilize both energy and material.
3. Describe the cell cycle, cell reproduction, and control.
4. Investigate DNA and gene expression as well as technologies based on our understanding of them.
5. Discuss interactions between organisms in ecosystems.

 

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The Major Components of Life

no word count 

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic are the two major categories of cells making up life on earth. Both these types require water and carbon.

Describe the characteristics of water and carbon that makes them important to living things in general, and to specific forms of life including plants, animals, and prokaryotes. Why is NASA looking for water on Mars?

Describe the differences in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. How have the characteristics of each kind of cell put limitations and provided opportunities for the survival and divergence of modern living things? Why might both cell types be considered equally successful? Make sure to consider both Domains of Prokaryotes.

 

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