frame:exploring issues

Exploring Issues with The Living World

For the last decade, my major teaching responsibility as a biology professor at Washington University has been a large nonmajors course devoted to examining major issues in biology, ones that affect the public and about which stories currently appear in the newspapers. The course examines a different issue each week, the first lecture focusing on the issue and the following lectures introducing the biology that an informed layperson needs to know in order to understand that particular issue. In gaining an understanding both of the public issues and of the science underlying each issue, students obtain a broad introduction to the subject matter of biology.

THE LIVING WORLD is well suited to such an approach, providing a good general introduction to the biology needed to understand a broad range of current issues. Fully 24 of its 28 chapters are assigned in my course to provide scientific background for the twelve issues we discuss. Every teacher will have his or her own favorite selection of important biological issues; the twelve outlined here reflect my own interests and concerns.

Public Issue Supporting Biology

1. AIDS Page 489
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, a fatal disease caused by a sexually transmitted virus, is the focus of intensive research as its worldwide spread continues.
Viruses
Chapter 11 page 222
Immune System
Chapter 22 page 483
Safe Sex
Chapter 25 page 550

2. Infectious Diseases Page 226
Ebola, malaria, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases are emerging as major threats to world health.
Bacterial Cells
Chapter 3 page 51
Bacterial Diseases
Chapter 11 page 221

3. Curing Hereditary Disorders Page 50
An intensive effort is underway to cure cystic fibrosis and other hereditary disorders caused by defective genes, by transferring healthy genes into affected individuals.
Human Genetic Disorders
Chapter 6 page 129
Membrane Proteins
Chapter 4 page 49
Subunit Vaccines
Chapter 8 page 163

4. Gene Profiling Page 165
Forensics increasingly uses gene fingerprinting to identify culprits, procedures which also play a critical role in the human genome project.
DNA
Chapter 2 page 36
Genes
Chapter 7 page 144
Doing Gene Technology
Chapter 8 page 154

5. Bioengineering of Crops Page 161
Gene engineering has led to a revolution in agriculture more profound than any since Mendel. Pest resistance, frost tolerance, increased yields and many other traits are being modified daily.
Plants
Chapter 15 page 310
Gene Technology and Agriculture
Chapter 8 page 154
Photosynthesis
Chapter 5 page 92

6. Cancer and Smoking Page 448
Lung cancer, a major cause of death worldwide, is due almost entirely to cigarette smoking. Recent research documents how mutagens in the smoke damage growth-controlling genes.
Causes of Cancer
Chapter 20 page 449
Controlling Cell Division
Chapter 4 page 77
Respiratory System
Chapter 20 page 443

7. Heart Disease and Diet Page 457
Fatty buildup within arteries is a major cause of fatal heart disease. New research on diet suggests most heart disease is avoidable.
How the Heart Contracts
Chapter 20 page 441
Dietary Cholesterol
Chapter 21 page 459
Cardiac Muscle
Chapter 19 page 425

8. Drug Addiction Page 507
Addiction to cocaine, nicotine, and other drugs is now well understood. Drug induced changes in populations of receptors on synaptic membranes are the culprit, and no amount of willpower can prevent these addiction-causing drug responses.
Neurons
Chapter 19 page 419
The Central Nervous System
Chapter 23 page 497
Chemical Signaling
Chapter 24 page 522

9. Evolution and Creationism Page 170
The United States is the only country in the world where Darwin's theory of evolution is controversial. It is illuminating to consider why.
History of Terrestrial Vertebrates
Chapter 17 page 355
Human Evolution
Chapter 18 page 389
Evidence for Evolution
Chapter 9 page 175

10. Global Environmental Change Page 608
The worldwide consequences of releasing chemicals such as CFCs, acids, endocrine disrupters, and other pollutants into the environment seem increasingly to imperil our future.
Ozone Hole
Chapter 1 page 4
Acid Rain
Chapter 28 page 610
Global Warming
Chapter 28 page 612

11. Loss of Biodiversity Page 616
Extinction is forever, and loss of habitat is leading to a global wave of extinction as great as when the dinosaurs disappeared.
Non-Renewable Resources
Chapter 28 page 615
Disrupting Ecosystems
Chapter 27 page 600
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Stability
Chapter 27 page 598

12. Population Explosion Page 618
The world cannot indefinitely sustain its current populations, fast approaching six billion; efforts to slow this growth are having mixed success.
Solving Environmental Problems
Chapter 28 page 620
Population Growth
Chapter 27 page 584
World Ecosystems
Chapter 26 page 574

Public Issue	Supporting Biology
1. AIDS Page 489 Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, a fatal disease caused by a sexually transmitted virus, is the focus of intensive research as its worldwide spread continues.	Viruses Chapter 11 page 222 Immune System Chapter 22 page 483 Safe Sex Chapter 25 page 550
2. Infectious Diseases Page 226 Ebola, malaria, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases are emerging as major threats to world health.	Bacterial Cells Chapter 3 page 51 Bacterial Diseases Chapter 11 page 221
3. Curing Hereditary Disorders Page 50 An intensive effort is underway to cure cystic fibrosis and other hereditary disorders caused by defective genes, by transferring healthy genes into affected individuals.	Human Genetic Disorders Chapter 6 page 129 Membrane Proteins Chapter 4 page 49 Subunit Vaccines Chapter 8 page 163
4. Gene Profiling Page 165 Forensics increasingly uses gene fingerprinting to identify culprits, procedures which also play a critical role in the human genome project.	DNA Chapter 2 page 36 Genes Chapter 7 page 144 Doing Gene Technology Chapter 8 page 154
5. Bioengineering of Crops Page 161 Gene engineering has led to a revolution in agriculture more profound than any since Mendel. Pest resistance, frost tolerance, increased yields and many other traits are being modified daily.	Plants Chapter 15 page 310 Gene Technology and Agriculture Chapter 8 page 154 Photosynthesis Chapter 5 page 92
6. Cancer and Smoking Page 448 Lung cancer, a major cause of death worldwide, is due almost entirely to cigarette smoking. Recent research documents how mutagens in the smoke damage growth-controlling genes.	Causes of Cancer Chapter 20 page 449 Controlling Cell Division Chapter 4 page 77 Respiratory System Chapter 20 page 443
7. Heart Disease and Diet Page 457 Fatty buildup within arteries is a major cause of fatal heart disease. New research on diet suggests most heart disease is avoidable.	How the Heart Contracts Chapter 20 page 441 Dietary Cholesterol Chapter 21 page 459 Cardiac Muscle Chapter 19 page 425
8. Drug Addiction Page 507 Addiction to cocaine, nicotine, and other drugs is now well understood. Drug induced changes in populations of receptors on synaptic membranes are the culprit, and no amount of willpower can prevent these addiction-causing drug responses.	Neurons Chapter 19 page 419 The Central Nervous System Chapter 23 page 497 Chemical Signaling Chapter 24 page 522
9. Evolution and Creationism Page 170 The United States is the only country in the world where Darwin's theory of evolution is controversial. It is illuminating to consider why.	History of Terrestrial Vertebrates Chapter 17 page 355 Human Evolution Chapter 18 page 389 Evidence for Evolution Chapter 9 page 175
10. Global Environmental Change Page 608 The worldwide consequences of releasing chemicals such as CFCs, acids, endocrine disrupters, and other pollutants into the environment seem increasingly to imperil our future.	Ozone Hole Chapter 1 page 4 Acid Rain Chapter 28 page 610 Global Warming Chapter 28 page 612
11. Loss of Biodiversity Page 616 Extinction is forever, and loss of habitat is leading to a global wave of extinction as great as when the dinosaurs disappeared.	Non-Renewable Resources Chapter 28 page 615 Disrupting Ecosystems Chapter 27 page 600 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Stability Chapter 27 page 598
12. Population Explosion Page 618 The world cannot indefinitely sustain its current populations, fast approaching six billion; efforts to slow this growth are having mixed success.	Solving Environmental Problems Chapter 28 page 620 Population Growth Chapter 27 page 584 World Ecosystems Chapter 26 page 574