Biology

The genetics of homosexuality. Homosexuality is a controversial subject in the United States and many other countries. Many people believe that homosexuality is a choice, but increasingly, others understand otherwise. In your paper, please address the following areas:  * Detail the social history of homosexuality in the United States. How have public mores and laws changed in this area over the years?  * Some evidence exists for a genetic basis of male homosexuality. Please summarize this research, and detail any criticisms of it.  * Are there evolutionary models that explain male homosexuality? Please describe or speculate on such a model.  * What research has been conducted on the genetics of lesbianism? How might the genetic basis for sexual orientation of the male and female sex be different?

Create and deliver a presentation on your chosen disease in which you report on each of the following in detail:  Causative Agent: Describe and classify the microbe involved. If known, explain how the microbe causes/transmits the disease or interferes with normal body function. Also, describe the vector and/or life cycle for the microbe (if applicable).  Population(s) affected: What population(s) is/are at highest risk of contracting the disease? Are there any groups of people who should be tested? Please include statistical/geographical data and trends (from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, or other source [http://www.cdc.gov, http://www.who.int, etc.]).  Course of Disease: What are the usual signs/symptoms of someone with the disease? How is the disease diagnosed? What is the usual time course for recovery? Are there complications and/or long-term effects?  Interventions: Describe possible treatments and/or medical interventions. Is there a vaccine available? How can the disease be best prevented or kept under control?

A full list of the principles can be found here: http://www.newurbanism.org/newurbanism/principles.html “New Urbanism” proposes a “smart growth” development plan of the country’s sprawling suburbs. The article Neighborhood Design and Walking Trips in Ten US Metropolitan Areas discusses how neighborhood design impacts walkability in U.S. cities. After reading the article above and researching the New Urbanism Smart Score card criteria, how would you rate your community, the place you are using for your Portfolio Project? How does what you observed in your own community relate to what you read about in Chapter 3 of Public Health Ethics this week as far as the importance of community health? This week, look around where you live to see if you can spot any of these New Urbanism design principles in buildings or neighborhoods. (Keep in mind that the structures would probably be fewer than 10 years old.) Post descriptions of these buildings or neighborhoods along with any information you can find online as to why the project was undertaken. If you can’t find any New Urbanism designs at work where you live, go online and find 3-4 structures or neighborhood elements that illustrate these design principles. Describe their history and why they were built. In your post, also include the following points: Does your community suffer from urban sprawl? Is your community at risk of (greater) urban sprawl in the future? How would New Urbanism designs help to reduce problems you see in your community? Are there any policies that would help reduce urban sprawl in your community?

Each student must develop a thesis statement that analyzes the question related to biological anthropology. Thesis statements should outline the main argument of your analysis. Your thesis is your central argument, and can contain the main points you will make. In the body, the student must address the various viewpoints on the topic of the paper (in addition to the stance you are taking). The student will also discuss the significance of the topic research (why is this topic, question, argument important to biological anthropology? The study of evolution? Society at large?) Students should include a historical, political, and cultural context in their analysis of the author’s argument. The conclusion should summarize your main argument and add concluding insight. Use at least 3 academic sources to support their analysis. All sources need to be properly and consistently cited using an established citations method (i.e. APA, AAA, Chicago, MLA) and included in a bibliography. double spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font, 1 inch margins

Read the two attached documents, then answer the following questions in essay format: 1) In the introduction, Endler (1980) refers to a pervious field study he conducted (Endler, 1978) in which he documented a relationship between guppy coloration and the presence or absence of certain predators. What was this relationship? 2)What was Endler’s hypothesis for why this relationship was present in wild populations of guppies? 3) Explain the basic design of Endler’s greenhouse experiments. What was the prediction that would support Endlers hypothesis in the greenhouse experiments? 4)Explain how the results of the greenhouse experiments supported or rejected the initial hypothesis. 5) Why was it necessary to perform experiments (greenhouse and field) rather than just observe the patterns in nature? 6) Why was it necessary to perform field experiments in addition to the greenhouse experiments? Very briefly describe the basis of the field experiments. 7) What were the results of transferring guppies from a high predation environment to a low predation environment? Do these results support the results of the greenhouse experiments? 8) Based on the results of the previous field study, greenhouse experiments, and the field experiment, how do natural selection and sexual selection affect coloration in guppies?

You are to research a disease, and describe if it is a restrictive or obstructive disease.  What characteristics make it a restrictive or obstructive disease? How is the diseases treated?

Many of you know already that pollinators are on the decline globally, this is a scary thing. What can be done? What is being done, etc.  include a pic of any pollinator you want.

There is always something new in the media about brains and evolution. It is both important and interesting to keep up with these findings in this class. This also presents an opportunity to consider how science is interpreted by the media and communicated to the general public.  You will write a paper (4 pages, double-spaced) that critically analyzes a news story that covers a recent scientific report. What does the media story get right? What does it get wrong? How are the findings framed for a general readership? You will present your ‘fake news’ critique to your discussion section.

Before posting, be sure to have read the 4 different origin stories provided in Module 2.  They reflect four different peoples’ explanations for the origin of the world and for humans in the world. To meet the standard for discussion postings, you must follow the instructions and answer all the questions below (completion criterion), substantiate your responses accurately (accuracy + substantiation), and be comparative (analysis).  By “substantiate” I mean that you relate your answer to the material you studied.  Give examples and make sure they are accurate examples.  Giving your opinion is not enough.  You must explain your views. For all discussions in this course that have multiple sections, be sure to label your discussion post with numbers to each of the sections/questions posed: 1. There are numerous themes that occur in more than one of these origin accounts.  Choose ONE theme and compare and contrast it across the different origin accounts.  (Hint: Recall that we social scientists look for patterns, so find something that is common in two or more accounts–not exactly the same but similar. Then describe what is similar [pattern] and what is also different about it [variation] in the accounts.) 2. Which account views human nature most negatively and why?  (Hint: are humans depicted as largely evil over good?  How and why?) 3. Which account is your favorite and why? Evaluation Criteria:  follow instructions/completion, substantiation, and analysis

Answers the flowing question based on the attachment doc 1. Write down all the topics related to puberty or sex education you have assumed or learned to be “taboo.” In other words, what are some topics people believe should not be taught in schools? NEXT, watch the following video:  Sex Education: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0jQz6jqQS0 After watching the video, answer these questions.  2. What is the goal of sex education? 2. What age should it start? 3. What topics do YOU think to create a “good” sex education? 4.  Why does this video relate to adolescence and emerging adulthood?