The following articles address topics in the KCC College Now Science
curriculum. The articles are arranged in their respective
subject areas according to the Science course syllabus.
Each article is followed by several questions.
I.
Our Place in the Universe
1.
Life’s First Scalding Steps – Biology might have begun in cauldrons
at the bottom of the sea, Sarah Simpson, Science News,
9 Jan 1999, Vol. 155, pp. 24-26.
Go to the following web site,
read the article, and return here (use the Back key) to answer
the questions:
http://www.sciencenews.org/sn_arc99/1_9_99/Bob1.htm
Questions
1. Where
did life on Earth begin, at the surface, or deep below the ocean
depths? Support your answer.
2. Could
metallic ions have been the precursors to enzymes?
3. Discuss
the role of acetic acid in metabolism.
4. Who’s
theories do you support, Bada or Wachtershauser? Support
your answer.
II.
Our Mastery of the Universe
1.
Cloning Noah’s Ark, Robert P. Lanza, Betsy L. Dresser and Philip
Damiani, Scientific American, Nov 2000, pp. 84-89.
Go to the following web site,
read the article, and return here (use the Back key) to answer
the questions:
http://www.sciam.com/2000/1100issue/1100lanza.html
Questions
1. Explain
how the cloning process works.
2. Should
biotechnology be used to save endangered species? Why or
why not?
3. Should
we clone “extinct” species? Why or why not?
4. Why,
do you suppose, does it take so many attempts to successfully
clone an organism?
5. Should
we clone our pets? Why or why not?
III.
Our Explorations of Ourselves
1.
Needles and Nerves, Catherine Dold, Discover, Sep 1998,
pp. 59-62.
Go to the following web site,
read the article, and return here (use the Back key) to answer
the questions:
http://www.discover.com/recent_issue/index.htm
Questions
1. How
does acupuncture “work”?
2. Would
you accept acupunture as treatment? Why or why not?
3. Why
do you think there is such strong resistance to more wide spread
use of acupuncture?
4. Do
you believe Cho’s experience? Explain.
