Biology & Health Module
Information Page
PHY106 — Spring 1997
Science for the 21st Century
Syracuse University

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Lecture Schedule

*Note: The cancer topic will likely metastasize to
the beginning of the week of the 21st.

Readings

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Readings from Trefil and Hazen The Sciences

Biology Review/Background

• Click here to access reading recommendations for Chapters 20-22.
• Your main reading assignment in the first week is Chapter 23. You should focus on reading that chapter, and review Chapters 20-22 as needed and as time permits.

Evolution

• Read all of Chapter 23 Evolution pp. 485-511.
• Consult the PHY106 Evolution vs. Creationism Web page.
• Note: Click here (and then scroll down) to access figure of of modern 3-kingdom phylogenetic scheme (in contrast with traditional, and fading, 5-kingdom scheme shown in Fig. 19-2 of Trefil & Hazen, p. 478). See also the full article on Extremophiles from Scientific American Web site, or find it in the print edition of the 4/97 issue.
• Click here to try an artificial-life Java applet, based on Richard Dawkins' "Blind Watchmaker" algorithm for simulating evolution by natural selection (here artificial selection by user).  
• For scientific method background (and pseudoscience issues in connection with creationism), as covered in PHY105, see:
  • Chapter 1 of Trefil and Hazen (esp. Fig. 1-2 on p.6, or an online modified version)
  • Pseudoscience/Paranormal/Skepticism Page

Mammalian Cloning Breakthrough — Special Topic

• Web Resources About Dolly, the Cloned Sheep

Readings from Scientific American special issue on Cancer

This issue is organized under the following section headings:

• Fundamental Understandings
• Causes and Prevention
• Toward Earlier Detection
• Improving Conventional Therapy
• Therapies of the Future
• Living with Cancer

We will focus on Fundamental Understandings and glimpse a few other areas, notable Causes and Prevention . The way many people, including scientists, "read" Scientific American is by focusing on the (excellent) figures and skimming the text as needed. You are encouraged, accordingly, to surf through this issue which is full of excellent figures, sidebars, etc. on this vital topic. You will find information that will help prolong and enhance your life.

*Principal discoverer of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes.
Many others have participated in these crucial discoveries.

HIV/AIDS Readings

In Trefil and Hazen, The Sciences, read

• p. 531 (Immune System)
• p. 548-550 (Viruses and Viral Epidemics)

In Scientific American special issue on Cancer, read

• pp. 16 & 18 (HIV's Achilles Heel)

Consult the PHY106 AIDS Resources Web page for other material, esp. the pages on HIV from The Why Files site.