Course Instructor: Anu Shanmuganathan
Our knowledge of DNA, the basic unit of hereditary information has revolutionized science in the last few decades. It has expanded the frontiers of agriculture, research, reproduction and medicine so much so that we have made food tastier, pets immortal cured and prevented incurable diseases. In this seminar, we will examine the scientific, social, political, economic and moral consequences of understanding genes and genomes. What is the Good, Bad and the Ugly of understanding genes, the code of life? The applications and ethics of genetic engineering as well as moral responsibilities in science will be discussed via reading (Bill Lambrecht's Dinner at the New Gene Cafe'; James Watson's DNA-The Secret of Life), movies and documentaries (My Sister's Keeper; Cloning; Food Inc., GAATACA). Students enrolled in this FYS section must also be concurrently enrolled in Biology 101; however, students do not have to be considering a biology major to take this course.