BIOL 103 Biology in Science Fiction

The Revenge of the Biomorphs:
"You Will Forget All Your Math!"

Study Guide.
Equations for Biology.
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*Warp Dates:
Class till 4:00PM

BIOL 103 QR
Biology in Science Fiction
Syllabus 2008

Biomorphs Home
Update: May 2, 2008

Spring 2008
WF 2:10 - 4:00pm, Hig Aud

Dr. Joan Slonczewski
Office: Hig 302
Office Hours: MT 1:00-4:00

Math & Science Skills Center
Math Skills Center hours:
TR 11-1pm, 7-9pm; Sun 7-9pm
Tutor: Gilad Barlev

In this course, we investigate biology in the context of science fiction literature. We learn to interpret data based on common patterns of biological science, including basic quantitative reasoning. We also explore the human, societal and artistic dimensions of science fiction. The "Biomorphs" are a fictional alien race that threatens life on Earth by use of bad mathematics. Our course emphasizes the challenges facing our biosphere today, such as global warming and species extinction.

Date	Subject	Assignments Due
Jan 16	*From Time Machine to 2001: Biology in SF.* *Star Trek: Tribbles.* Triticale. Population. Calculator Logarithms**	-
Jan 18	Evolution; Speciation. The BIOL 103 Planets: Illyria. Ralinius. Zlerin. Biomorph Challenge 1. Tribbles Math	Time Machine I-IV Quiz 1 Due: Email by Monday 2pm
*Jan 23	*Time Machine.* Human evolution; Chimp breakup; Divergence or Convergence? X-files: The Host Scolex; Parasites; Biomorphs. Life in the Universe: Spectrum; Stars. Supernova. Food.	*Time Machine* (complete) Biomorph 1 Due Key
Jan 25	Galapagos Visitors. Evolution. Islands. The Cruise. Natural Selection:Raft1. Raft2. Boobies; Vampire Finch Bible: Adam; Eve; Noah's Ark Mendelian diseases:Huntington's; LDL; LDL2; CF; Marfan OMIM Hardy-Weinberg; HW; Sickle/Malaria	Galapagos Book 1, Chs 1 - 24
*Jan 30	*Atomic Cafe* **Lemmings1; L2; L3; Lemurs Drift1; Drift2 Biomorph Challenge 2. Population Genetics**	Galapagos (complete) Quiz 2 Due -- Email By 2:00 Wednesday
Feb 1	Have humans out-evolved?	Biomorph 2 Due Key
Feb 6	Classification of Life *(Barlowe's Guide)* Barlowe1, Barlowe2 Review for Test 1.	Aliens Classified (optional) Practice Questions -- Test 1 Key
Feb 8	TEST 1	Test 1 Scores & Key
*Feb 13	Dune: Water and adaptation. Water2; Dewcatcher Desert1; Desert2; Sahara; Mojave; Middle East; Power Desert Rainfall	Dune, Book I Biomes; Lakes
Feb 15	Dune: Energy and Ecosystem. Desert life. Dune miniseries. Finding Water; Humidity; Perspiration; Stillsuit; Walking Solar Energy; Carbon Dioxide Biomorph Challenge 3. Water and Energy	Dune, Book II and Appendix 1
Feb 20	Animal & Human Behavior. Altruism; Mole rats; Chimps Should the Fremen water Arrakis? Handouts for study Solar power; Carbon Dioxide; Mexican desert	Dune (complete) Quiz 3 Due
Feb 22	Brain power: Brainwaves; Brain reading; Brain remote Oceans: Star Trek 4--Voyage Home Whales Humpback; Ambergris	Biomorph 3 Due Key
Feb 27	Oceans; Food web; Cephalopods; Video *Guide to A Door; People Power;* Sexual diversity in nature	Door into Ocean, Parts I, II Oceans
Feb 29	Divergence and Convergence. Seaswallower. Video Apes; Marsupials; M2 B1; B2; Hemoglobin; Heme2; Hill plot; CO2 buffer	Door into Ocean, Parts III, IV Base Pairs; Sex
	SPRING BREAK
Mar 19	Measuring divergence: Apes; Genome; Drugs in water; Environment: Recovery; Bald Eagles; Lake Erie Cooperation:Symbiosis; Cooperation; Ant Acacia Nonviolence: Malcolm X	Door into Ocean (complete)
Mar 21	Acid Pollution. Ocean pH; pH2; pH3; Acid dissociation Sugar + H₂SO₄ "Lifeshaping." Molecules; Sperm count Biomorph Challenge 4. Ocean Ecology.	-
Mar 26	2001; Divergence; Gorillas Acid aliens: Devil in the Dark. Ferroplasma Comic Book Periodic Table, H₂SO4	Web Proposal Due Final Check List (due 4/30)
Mar 28	Jurassic Park. Cloning Dinosaurs. Wiped! Amber; PCR Genome; People; Dino bones 3:30-5:00 Web Project Help Session	Biomorph 4 Due; Key Jurassic Park pp. ix-120. Dino Evolution
Apr 2	Dinos; Hot or Cold? Review for Test 2 Rastafarianism	Practice Questions -- Test 2
Apr 4	TEST 2	Test 2 Key
Apr 9	Genome; DNA; PCR; PCR-DNA; DNA sequence Dino DNA problems; Cloning; Paternity.	Jurassic Park (complete)
Apr 11	No Class (replaced by Monday class)
Apr 14,15 Mon or Tues	FSH 103. Bring wireless PC if you have one. OMIM. DNA; BLAST;Webcutter; Human Genome *Biomorph Challenge 5. DNA BLAST.* Is Oxygen a poison? Aging; Ozone;Climate	> Monday or Tuesday 2:10 <
Apr 16	Cloning humans. *Mask.* What price immortality? Stem cells What's Lysine? Amino Acids; Ribosome	What price genetic engineering?
*Apr 18	*X-files: Postmodern Prometheus* Vertebrates Embryos; Dolly; Drosophila; Hox1; The Fly Ligers; Chimeras; Zoo
Apr 23	Brain and sensation. Brainbow. Links. Health Care: Sicko Dopamine; Nicotine, Cocaine, Chocolate1; Hedweb.	Biomorph 5 Due Key Brain Plague pp. 1-240
Apr 25	Emerging diseases. Microbe vs. Human; AIDS; TB DNA Ident; Cloned Dogs; Sleep & Drugs; Drugs & Brain	Brain Plague (complete)
Apr 30	Intelligence. Mouse Party Machine AI. Robots evolve; Mind Children. MIPS Brain power *Measure of a Man.*	WEB PROJECTS: 10:00AM Final Check List (2:10)
*May 2	Web Project Presentations New Gene Law? Course evaluation.	Practice for Test 3
May 5	1:30 PM Test 3	Test 3 -- exam week

Required texts:
The Time Machine, by H. G. Wells
Galapagos, by Kurt Vonnegut
Dune, by Frank Herbert
Jurassic Park, by Michael Crichton
A Door into Ocean, by Joan Slonczewski
Brain Plague, by Joan Slonczewski
On line: Study Guide and linked readings.
Optional: Barlowe’s Guide is an optional guide to some classic aliens.
CASIO fx-260 Calculator required. Bring to every class. (Purchase with the books at Bookstore).

Tests. The three 80-minute tests are based on the Study Guide, and on the Biomorph Challenges. Students need to follow the logic of each point, and be able to apply it to new examples.

Defend Earth: Final Web Project. A Web Project will present your biological Defense of Planet Earth. The project must: (1) include principles of biology learned in class, and (2) address the question, how can life on Earth survive the impending threat to our biosphere? For example, how has another planet somewhere in the universe faced a similar challenge? (3) Must include mathematical reasoning. Two partners are encouraged to share a project (with double work input expected) but no more than two.

Attendance and Participation during class or by e-mail. May include one or two film critiques (no more than two.) Films must be arranged and viewed on your own time. Eligible films include: Time Machine; 2001: A Space Odyssey; Sleeper; Jurassic Park; Andromeda Strain; Blade Runner; The Matrix (first film only); The Minority Report; AI; The Day After (nuclear war); The Day After Tomorrow (global warming). Two-page response must address: Which scientific ideas from our course are seen in this film? What are their implications for society, according to the film? What does the film get right, and what does it get wrong?

ATTENDANCE. 100% attendance is expected. Two absences are excused for sports or other reasons, but you are responsible for all material missed.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS. Your grade is based on the following:

40% Three tests. Each test consists of science questions based on the Study Guide and Biomorph Challenges.

20% Final Web Project. Due December 6 by 10:00AM. The project must work on IE and Mozilla without broken links. Two partners may share a project; more than two are not permitted.

20% Biomorph Challenges. Word-processed assignment must be turned in before class on the date due. Must represent solely your own work.

10% Quizzes on line and at the beginning of class (unannounced). On-line quiz result is "printed" to an MS document and emailed by attachment to instructor before class. Lowest quiz grade is dropped.

10% Attendance and Participation during class or by e-mail. May include up to two optional assignments such as critiques of films approved by instructor.

Standards for Projects and Tests. The standard College guidelines on individual authorship and plagiarism apply to all work, as stated in the Student Handbook 07-08. Web projects must cite all sources in detail comparable to that of a term paper.

Disabilities. If you have a physical, psychological, medical or learning disability that may affect your ability to carry out assigned course work, please contact the Office of Disability Services at 5453. The Coordinator of Disability Services, Erin Salva, will review your concerns and determine, with you, what accommodations are appropriate. All information and documentation of disability is confidential.

Technology in science fiction: Technovelgy