Step 1: Innovations in Biology and Technology – Finding Information Sources and Outline
Choose one of the provided topics (see list below, a-e).
Review Is My Source Credible? from the UMGC library.
Search the library and/or the internet to locate 3 credible information sources that you may use for this assignment. The purpose of this step is to get the research process started; you are not required to use these information sources in the final version of your assignment.
Write 1-2 sentences for each information source explaining why you believe these sources are credible using what you learned from the UMGC library article.
Include references to the 3 information sources in APA format: APA 7th Edition Citation Examples: General Rules.
Create an outline for the writing assignment. The outline should be in a bullet list format and include the major topics that you plan to include in your assignment, with some supportive detail for each topic. It should not be a draft with full sentences and paragraphs. Here are two resources that may be helpful as you write your outline:
UMGC (2021) Prewriting and Outlining. Prewriting and Outlining
UMGC (2021) Online Guide to Writing. Using Your Outline as a Note and Research Trap
Please review the grading rubric, and ask your professor if you have questions about this assignment.
Topic Choices:
Select one of the following 5 topics for your assignment. All the questions for the chosen topic should be addressed in your assignment.
a) Vaccines. Your friend is worried about the many vaccines that his newborn son is scheduled to receive and asks you for advice since you are taking a biology course. Research and address the following questions in your paper.
Briefly explain how the human immune system works.
Explain how vaccines work.
Contrast the traditional methods used to create vaccines with more recently used biotechnology techniques, including the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. Explain how the mRNA vaccines work based on your knowledge of the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology.
How have vaccinations impacted the frequency of these diseases over the past 100 years? Include a few specific statistics.
What are some of the diseases that infants and children in the US are routinely vaccinated against?
Why are some people worried about giving their children vaccines?
Specifically, why do some people believe that the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine can cause autism? Is there scientific evidence to support these concerns? Cite the original peer-reviewed scholarly research paper that started this concern and discuss its validity.
Conclude with advice to your friend regarding getting the recommended vaccines based on what you learned from reliable information sources.
b) Personal Genomics. Services like 23andMe and Ancestry have made it possible – even popular – for the average person to obtain in-depth information about their genome, including details like food allergies, drug sensitivities, and disease risks. There are even add-on sites that will take this information and generate elaborate reports, such as Promethease.
Research and address the following questions in your paper.
Describe how an individual’s DNA is collected and analyzed, and what the results provided to the consumer include. Include a brief desсrіption of the structure and function of DNA, including how genes control our traits, using what you have learned about the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology). Use information from the course readings, at least one service provider (e.g., 23&Me, Ancestry), and additional information resources.
What are some of the advantages of this easy, rapid, and relatively affordable access to genomic data?
What are some of the risks and concerns? Specifically, what are some concerns associated with Genome Privacy?
If you, or someone you know, have had your DNA analyzed, discuss the thought process that led you (or them) to do so, and share how you (or they) felt when the results were received. If you haven′t, discuss the reasons why you have not (yet) done this.
c) Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) is a recent breakthrough discovery in bioengineering that enables scientists to edit DNA. Because you have studied biology in this course, you have volunteered at your niece’s High School Science Club to monitor a student debate about CRISPR. The students will be watching this Genome Editing with CRISPR-Cas9 video before the debate. You need to watch the video to be prepared in case there are any questions, and incorporate something you learned from this video into your paper.
Research and address each of the following questions in your paper:
What is Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)? How does it work and what can it be used for?
What role does Cas9 play in the CRISPR process? How does the CRISPR-Cas9 system snip and replace DNA sequences?
As you explain CRISPR, incorporate some information from the Genome Editing video above, with an in-text citation.
What are the potential benefits and concerns associated with gene editing? Include specific examples.
Do you believe that the inherent risks of modifying DNA are worth the rewards? Include specific examples.
Do you believe that it is ethical to genetically engineer animals and humans? Explain.
d) Bioprinting. Your father has been on a waitlist for a new kidney for several years, but no match has been found. You hear about bioprinting on the news and decide to do some research so you can tell him about it. Research and address the following questions in your paper:
What is bioprinting and how does the process work? Describe how bioprinting can form complex biomaterials, relating it to what you have learned about cells, tissues, and organs from the course readings.
What are stem cells and how can they be used for bioprinting?
What is bioink and how is it used for bioprinting?
Include at least two specific examples of current research in this field. Include references to peer-reviewed scholarly papers.
What are some of the benefits of bioprinting?
What are the current challenges with bioprinting?
Conclude with predictions for the future. Do you believe that your father could benefit from this technology in his lifetime? Briefly explain your reasoning.
e) Human-caused global climate change is the biggest environmental challenge we are faced with today. Your aunt is a climate skeptic and you have decided to use your understanding of science to explain to her why the earth’s climate is changing, describe the major biological effects of climate change, and discuss how technology can be a solution to this problem.
Briefly describe the greenhouse effect and how carbon dioxide is a natural part of the carbon cycle.
How is the use of fossil fuels disrupting the carbon cycle and enhancing the greenhouse effect? You may want to look ahead to the Week 7 readings for this information.
What are the major ecological effects associated with climate change? Describe at least two specific examples.
What are the human health concerns associated with climate change? Describe at least two specific examples.
And finally, what can we do to reduce our impact on the climate through technological innovation? Include a desсrіption of at least two technological solutions.
