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Homework assignments
Chapter 20 Due Wednesday, December 10
Complete the You Decide activity on the textbook website (www.essentialbiology.com): Does human activity cause global warming? Answer the essay question in the quiz at the end of the activity on a separate sheet of paper (do not complete the quiz online). Type and double-space your answer. For you convenience, the essay question is copied here:
What data supports the notion that Earth is getting warmer? Is this data convincing? Are there problems with this data? How can you overcome them?
Is there a connection between global warming and carbon dioxide levels? What data supports this? Are there problems with this data? Can you devise an experiment to probe this question further?
Are humans responsible for the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels? Can you design an experiment that could test this question conclusively?
If fossil fuel combustion is not responsible for global warming, what might be? Can you devise an experiment to differentiate between potential causes?
Chapter 12 Due Monday, Nov. 10
Answer the discussion questions at the end of the biotechnology case study you discussed in class. Answers should be typed and double-spaced.
Chapter 8
Due Wednesday, Oct. 8
Answer one of the Biology and Society essay questions at the end of Chapter 8. You may answer either #13 or #14 on page 142 of the textbook. Answers should be typed and double-spaced.
Chapter 1
Due Wednesday, Sept 3.
Complete the "You Decide" exercise for Chapter 1 found on the textbook website and/or the textbook CD-ROM. It is titled "What can we do about antibiotic-resistant bacteria?"
Write an essay in response to the questions listed in Step 7 of the exercise, copied here for your convenience.
You have seen data concerning the problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including slow development of new antibiotics (Step 2); and increase in antibiotic prescriptions (Step 3); and more antibiotic-resistant bacteria (Step 4). You have also seen data on two proposed ways of combating the problem, including antibiotic rotation (Step 5), and reduction of antibiotic prescriptions (Step 6).
In your essay, summarize, evaluate, and argue the validity of the data that demonstrate the problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Then present a plan for reducing this problem in the future. Keep these questions in mind:
What data support the hypothesis that antibiotic-resistance is on the rise? What problems do you see in this data? Can you propose a way to overcome these problems?
Which methods have been successful in decreasing the number of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains? Which methods have not?
What shortcomings or errors do these given studies have? Can you design a new study that would address these problems?
Note: You must do more than just answer these questions; incorporate your answers to these questions into your essay about the problems of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and your ideas for potential solutions to these problems.
