The extinct Passenger Pigeon One of their last stands: Petoskey, MI |
Bio 1030: Biology Today Winter 2008, Part II (February 27-April 21) Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University
|
The still-living honey bee Courtesy of Dr. Zachary Huang |
To derive pleasure from the art of discovery, as from the other arts, the student . . . must be made to re-live, to some extent, the creative process. In other words, he must be induced, with proper aid and guidance, to make some of the fundamental discoveries of science by himself, to experience in his own mind some of those flashes of insight which have lightened its path. . . . The traditional method of confronting the student not with the problem but with the finished solution, means depriving him of all excitement, [shutting] off the creative impulse, [reducing] the adventure of mankind to a dusty heap of theorems.--Arthur Koestler, 1964
Tentative Final Grades, if No Make-Up were Taken
End of semester evaluations for supplemental instruction: http://studentvoice.com/wayne/supplementalendofsemester
Make-up exams for either Midterm I or II: Tuesday, April 29, 8:00-10:30. Bring pencils and know your student ID. Only the highest score of the first or second try of the same test will count.
Heartfelt thanks to: Sarah Marie Michienzi / Aleksandar Popadic
Supplemental Instruction Information
Study Guide for Midterm II: htm format / pdf format
The April 21 Final Test will consist
of the following:
Nature of Science: PPT (Power Point) Format / PDF (Adobe) Format (Read online: Scientific Inquiry: Invention and Test (Hempel).
Microscopic World of Cells PPT / PDF ( Read: Essential Biology, pp. 55-9). Supplementary visual slide show (in French): Powers of 10: PPT Format / PDF Format
Photosynthesis: PPT / PDF ( Read EB pp. 104-106, 108 [Engelmann's experiment only], 114-116). [For a fascinating history of Engelmann's discovery, not required for this class, click here. If you are interested in greenhouse politics, click here.]
Genetics: PPT / PDF. Required reading (a fuller version of lecture on left): Birth of Genetics and Gregor Mendel's Law of Segregation: .HTM format / PDF)
Genetics / Review session for past 5 lectures. PPT / PDF (Required reading: EB, 143-148 [including only top 2 paragraphs of p. 148]; 150-155) (Fun video: I�m My Own Grandpa)
Proteins, DNA, and the Genetic Code: PPT / PDF (Read: Proteins and DNA [EB 46-51]; the Genetic Code (EB 179-180)
Frankenstein's Monsters? PPT / PDF (Read: EB, pp. 219-223; 227-229 [to 2nd parag.]; 236-237 [safety to goal?]
Canaries in a Coal Mine: PPT / PDF (Please read: Easter Island and EB, 393-396)
Climate Change: Inconvenient Truth (film shown in class; for a summary of film, click here)
Human Impact on the Environment: PPT / PDF (Please read: EB, pp. 439-462)
Winning student presentations that will appear on the test:
I. Mangrove rivulus: PPT / PDF
II. Say No to GMOs: PDF
...............
Class-related Internet Articles of Interest (not required for second midterm): 1. The world's rubbish dump: a garbage tip that stretches from Hawaii to Japan 2. The Mystery of the Vanishing Bees 3. The plight of the obscure innovator in science.
What rational people have to say about the evolution / creationism "debate:" 1. Bill Cosby on the Noah (actually, Gilgamesh) myth. 2. Irish Rovers (Shel Silverstein) on the same myth. 3. Julia Sweeney's Letting go of God (Skip to minute 28 of audio)
Fascinating Research Projects (for other classes):
The Fate of the earth: 1. World Scientists' Warning to Humanity. 2. Terror Against the Biosphere
Applying the scientific method to the 9/11 and 7/7 mysteries: 1. Loose Change. 2. Captain Eric May 3. A former Italian Prime Minister.
Applying the Scientific Method to the Murder of Pat Tillman: Justin Raimondo
Background sound: Common Loon |
 |
More about the common loon |