Copernicus, Darwin, and the Human Genome Project
MB&B 103
Fall 2017
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01
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Much of art and philosophy is inspired by the question: What does it mean to be human? The project of science has provided rational explanations of human identity that threaten our self-perception as special beings--beginning with the Copernican revolution and discoveries about our unspecial place in the universe. In this course, we will discuss three paradigms arising from modern molecular biology that provide perspective on the lines between living and non-living, human and non-human life, and human and machine by exploring the science of DNA, evolution, and the Human Genome Project, respectively. As part of both discussions, we will consider how society negotiates with science, as depicted in politics and popular art, ethical issues pertaining to the advancement of scientific (e.g., reproductive, genetic) technologies, and plausible resolutions to the tension between science and society that arise from a detailed understanding of the scientific method. Little or no background knowledge in science/biology will be assumed. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
NSM MB&B |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: None |
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Past Enrollment Probability: 75% - 89% |
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