Interdisciplinary discussions are scheduled throughout the semester. They will take place before, during or after the Biology II lectures and each exam will have several questions on the ID topics covered before.
Below is the schedule of ID topics with links to the material used in class. Students are expected to go over the material before coming to class in order to follow and contribute to the in-class discussions.
| ID Topic | ID Material | ||||
| Discussion 1 Slides |
History & Scientific Discoveries:
Table of Contents Evolution vs Politics or Religion |
Discussion on Linnaeus & Kuhn and paradigmatic shifts; Darwin’s Life · Excerpt from The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by T. Kuhn · BBC documentary on Darwin’s life and struggles |
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| Discussion 2 Slides |
History & Scientific Discoveries:
Beliefs & Proofs |
Discussion on the Miasma and Germ Theory of Disease | |||
| Discussion 3 | Biology & Industry:
Ethnobotany & Pharmaceutics |
Discussion on Patents and Neem Oil
· “Granting Community Theft.” By J. Vidal in The Guardian 9/8/2003 . Major Legal Case: ASSOCIATION FOR MOLECULAR PATHOLOGY v. MYRIAD GENETICS, INC |
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|
Science & Race, Gender, Social Status:
Women in Science |
Discussion on Women in Science:
· Female Biologists Biographies: |
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| Discussion 5 | Science & Race, Gender, Social Status:
Race and Research |
Discussion on the HeLa cells history
· Excerpts from The Immortal life of Henrietta Lacks by R. Skloots · Podcast: How HeLa Cells Work |
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| Discussion 6 | History & Scientific Discoveries:
Failures and Luck |
Discussion on Blood Groups
· Blood groups and human migrations · Podcast: What’s the deal with Blood Types |
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| Discussion 7 | Diseases Impact & Public Health Policies:
Politics vs Science |
Discussion centered on articles on Ebola and Emergency Public Health Policies
· CDC website visit · Ebola article from The Freeman Spogli Institute (FSI) |
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| Discussion 8 | Biases in Science and Medecine
Race and Research |
Discussion on biases in Experimental Designs and Translational Medicine
· Articles/docs on biases in translational medicine and care |
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| Discussion 9 | Diseases Impact & Public Health Policies: LobbiesPolitics vs Health |
Discussion: Bloomberg & soda ban
· Public Health Law Center doc: Taxing Sugar Drinks: A Tool for Obesity Prevention, Cost Saving & Health Improvement |
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| Discussion 10 | Biases in Science and Medecine
Race and Research |
Discussion: Tuskegee Syphilis Experiments
· Website: U.S. Public Health Service Syphilis Study at Tuskegee |
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