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Special Topics in
Honors Biology: Human Systems and Foreign Substances - HoBio300
Spring Semester, 1999, Cabrini College, 610 King of Prussia Road, Radnor, PA
19087-3698
Dr. Sherry L. Fuller-Espie
Room 308, Founder's Hall, (610) 902-8369
Office hours by appointment
sherry.fuller-espie@cabrini.edu
T R 1:50-3:05 p.m.
Table of Contents:
Course Syllabus
Handouts
Student Presentations
Films and Guest Speakers
Objectives
Summary of Course Evaluation
Bibliography of Handouts
Course Syllabus
Textbook: Any general biology text.
Date |
Topic |
Film |
| 1/12 – 1/14 |
Introduction to human biological systems Scientific
method
Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell structure and characteristics
Cooperation of cells in tissues and organs
Homeostasis (mechanisms, temperature, glucose, oxygen, hormone and water regulation,
feedback systems) |
Plague of our children – Dioxin, PCB
DES (diethylstilbestrol) |
| 1/19 – 1/21 |
Organic compounds important for cellular
function: Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, vitamins, hormones
Handouts:
1. @ Designer estrogens (SciAm)
2. Is hormone replacement therapy a risk? (SciAm)
3. *The estrogen dilemma (CPB-33) |
Alcohol and human physiology
Fetal alcohol syndrome |
| 1/26 – 1/28 |
Cellular processes: Metabolism, cell division,
protein synthesis, signal transduction Handout: *Biological ties that bind
(CPB-6) |
The Genetic Gamble - I |
| 2/2 |
Chromosomes and Genetic Diseases –
Inherited and Acquired Handouts:
1. *Werner Syndrome (CPB-8)
2. *Cystic fibrosis (CPB-9) |
The Genetic Gamble - II |
| 2/4 – 2/11 |
How cancer rises and spreads Twelve major
cancers
Handouts:
1. *One in eight (CPB-46)
2. @What causes cancer? (SciAm)
3. Fighting cancer by attacking its blood supply
(SciAm)
4. Starving tumors of their lifeblood (SciAm) |
Cancer – A genetic disease
Carcinogens |
| 2/16 |
Hazardous waste |
Hazardous waste |
| 2/18 |
Nutrition and digestion |
Digestion |
| 2/23 |
Circulatory system |
Circulatory system |
| 2/25 |
Respiration: gaseous exchange |
Tobacco and human physiology |
| 3/2 –3/4 |
Spring Break – No class! |
|
| 3/9 – 3/11 |
The Immune System and the Body’s Defenses Innate
and acquired immune responses
Importance of skin and normal flora
Handouts:
1. @Immunotherapy for cancer (SciAm)
2. *It’s a knockout: mice advancing research as lab animals of choice (CPB-11)
3. Healing cancer (SciAm)
|
Cell wars: how the immune system works. Conquest
of parasites |
| 3/15 |
Semester midpoint |
|
| 3/16 – 3/23 |
Student presentations |
|
| 3/25 |
Water, food and air-borne sources of disease Handouts:
1. *Quick change pathogens gain an evolutionary advantage (CPB-16)
2. The E. coli are coming (SciAm)
|
Food: keep it safe to eat |
| 3/30 |
Sexually transmitted diseases |
Chlamydia |
| 4/6 – 4/8 |
Student presentations |
|
| 4/13 |
Viruses and their effects on the body Handouts:
1. Gene therapy: shutting down a gene – antisense drug wins approval (SciAm)
2. Disarming flu viruses (SciAm)
|
AIDS: a biological perspective |
| 4/15 |
Drugs and their effects on the nervous system Handout:
*Rave drugs may damage the brain (CPB-4) |
A chemical called cocaine |
| 4/20 – 4/29 |
Student presentations |
|
CPB = Current Perspectives in Biology
SciAm = Scientific American
Speakers will replace films and lectures as determined by the availability of the
speakers. In addition, lecture topics are subject to change depending on recent advances
in the biosciences that warrant discussion.
Return to Table of Contents
Handouts:
Those handouts indicated with a "*" (x8) have three questions
which follow the material. The student is to answer these questions in type-written form
and hand them in on the day the subject is to be reviewed.
Those handouts indicated with a "@" (x3) are to be summarized in type-written
form (one page minimum) and handed in on the day the subject is to be reviewed.
The student will be prepared to discuss all handouts assigned for particular days
as indicated on the syllabus.
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Student Presentations:
Each student will carry out a library-based research on two topics
which have been approved by the instructor that relate to this course. An oral
presentation and written paper will accompany each topic. A summary of the subject will be
distributed to each student at the oral presentation. In addition, three questions
prepared by the presenter will be distributed and the audience will answer these questions
during the presentation and hand them in at the end of the class period.
Written papers must be at least 5 pages in length and no more than 8 (double spaced,
Times New Roman, 11 point). It must contain an abstract (summary
paragraph in the beginning), an introduction, body of main points, conclusions,
and bibliography. There must be at least 4 citations in the bibliography
which are correctly referenced within your paper. Do not included references in your
paper if you did not use that information! Obtain your references from edited
or peer reviewed sources, i.e. periodicals and textbooks, but NOT internet sources, unless
you receive approval from the course instructor. Some periodicals are available in the
Holy Spirit Library, and others may be obtained through interlibrary loan. This
sometimes takes a couple of weeks, so get organized and don't leave your library search
until the last minute. In addition, there are a large number of textbooks available
either in the Science Department office or the Holy Spirit Library including:
Drug interactions (P.D. Hansten), Nutrition, Weight Control and Exercise (Katch),
Exercise physiology: Energy Nutrition and Human Performance (McCardle), Clinical
Pharmacology(Milmon and Morrelli), Dr. Neumann’s Guide to the New Sexually
Transmitted Diseases, Human Biology (Johnson), Human Biology (Mader), Essentials of
Immunology (Roitt), Medically Important Fungi (Larone), Medical Parasitology (Bech and
Daview), Medical Mycology (Rippon), Microbiology (McKane and Kandel), Human Biology
(Starr, McMillan), Biology and Human Concerns (Volpe), Mosby’s Medical Dictionary,
Physicians Desk Reference, Biochemistry (Lehninger), Medical Microbiology (Volk and Brown)
and many more.
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Films and Guest Speakers:
Students will be asked to write summaries of film contents during the
course of the semester. The instructor will decide after viewing the film whether a
summary will be required. The summary will be due at the beginning of the next class
session. Summaries of all guest speaker lectures will be required.
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Objectives:
1. To become familiar with the major components of the systems of
the human body.
2. To be aware of the numerous factors that can affect these systems.
3. To understand what constitutes good health and what is required for maintenance
of good health.
4. To develop an appreciation of the human body and the basic research that has made
understanding the mechanisms of human systems possible.
5. To learn the sources of external factors that can lead to disease so that the
student may make wise choices and avoid these when possible.
6. To become comfortable with open discussions in the classroom when interacting
with classmates.
7. To utilize library resources effectively to obtain scientific information for
oral and written reports.
8. To become a competent presenter of scientific information to classmates,
implementing effective communication, visual aids, and audience participation.
9. To relate topics discussed in the classroom to current and future issues
involving human systems and foreign substances.
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Summary of Course
Evaluation:
Total possible points = 100
Attendance 10 points
0-1 absences - 10 points
2-3 absences - 9 points
4 absences - 8 points
12 Assignments (Scientific American Summaries, lecture and film summaries andCPB
questions) 12 points
6 out of 12 = � + 12 points
Otherwise 10 points
Subtract one additional point for each missed assignment
2 Outlines (4 points each) 8 points
Oral Presentations – attendance and questions 10 points
Oral presentations 20 points
If both = � +, 20 points
If � +/� = 19 points
If � +/� - = 18 points
If � / � = 18 points
Written papers 40 points
If both = A, 40 points
If A and A- = 38 points
If A and B+ (or B) = 36 points
If B+ and B (or B-) = 34 points
If B and C = 32 points
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Bibliography of handouts:
Current Perspectives in Biology, 1998 Edition.
(1998) Edited by Shelly Cummings. Wadsworth Publishing Company, Belmont, CA.
Chapters 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 16, 33 and 46
ScientificAmerican
January 1999, Disarming flu viruses, Laver WG et al., pp. 78-87
November 1998, The E. coli are coming, Stix G, p. 29, Shutting
down a gene, Stix G, pp. 46-50
October 1998, Starving tumors of their lifeblood, Ezzell C, pp. 33-34, Designer
estrogens, Jordan VC, pp. 60-67
September 1998, Healing Cancer, Gibbs WW, pp. 40-41
September 1996, What causes cancer?, Trichopoulos D et al., pp. 80-87,
Is hormone replacement therapy a risk?, Davidson, NE, p. 101, and Immunotherapy
for cancer, Old LJ, pp. 136-143
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