science-BIOL

i am not looking for nothing major.just the simple project.

Project Descriptions

Written Assignment 1: Biology and Technology in the Real World

Addresses course 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.

2. Find articles 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 two pages, double spaced, excluding references. You must read the articles that you find and summarize the information they contain briefly in your own words. Extensive quotes from the article are discouraged. This assignment demonstrates the acceptable, ethical, and academic method for citing information from a public source. You may not use online encyclopedias as a source more than once. Use APA style for citing references (see

http://www.umuc.edu/library/guides/apa.html

).

4. Post your assignment to your Assignments folder.

Grading

1. Content (40 percent)

Your paper should be written in your own words, it must relate to your selected topic, and it must address the questions asked in the topic description below. You will be graded based on the information you provide, as well as the credibility of the sources you cite. (Assistance with evaluating web resources can be found at

http://www.umuc.edu/library/how.shtml

.)

2. Contribution (50 percent)

You will be graded on how you express your ideas on the content that you provided. You should analyze and defend your ideas based on what you have learned from your research on your topic.

3. Form (10 percent)

You will be expected to write a paper with proper formatting, spelling, and grammar.

Topics (select one)

a) Genetically modified food. What is the purpose of human-made genetic recombinations in food? Are foods that contain genes resulting from artificial genetic recombinations really safe? What foods in your supermarket result from genetic recombination? What types of regulations exist for these foods? (For example, you might search the Food and Drug Administration website.) Clearly explain your reasoning for each answer.

b) Stem cells. A relative of a friend of yours had a spinal cord injury after a bad car accident. The medical team has decided that this patient 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 are going to write for him or her a two-page discussion of stem cell information. In your discussion, include a description of the biology of stem cells, and explain how these cells are unique in their ability to treat diseases and injury. 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 more to use of hydraulic fracturing and tar sands to extract natural gas and oil. 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 oil sands are used to obtain fossil fuels. Then, in more detail, describe the environmental problems involved in these processes and why they are controversial. Finally, give your opinions on possible solutions to the problems, with your reasoning backed by the references that you studied.