-Describe evidence presented by the defense in support of irreducible complexity in the bacterial flagellum and blood clotting and the immune system. 

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NOVA program about Evolution legal case

Watch the PBS Nova program entitled “Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial” and write a report of at least 900 words about the program. This is about the 2005 evolution vs “intelligent design” court trial in Dover PA. Here is the program’s web site: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HZzGXnYL5I the program was among the recipients of the 67th Annual Peabody Awards, which “recognize distinguished achievement and meritorious public service by TV and radio stations, networks, producing organizations, individuals and the World Wide Web.” According to a press release issued on April 2, 2008, “The centerpiece of this thoughtful, topical edition of NOVA was the recreation, verbatim, of key testimony and argument from a six-week trial in Pennsylvania that served as a crash course in modern evolutionary theory, the evidence for evolution and the nature of science.”

 

In your report:

–Define intelligent design (ID).

–How does the defense define “irreducible complexity”?

–Describe evidence presented by the defense in support of irreducible complexity in the bacterial flagellum and blood clotting and the immune system.   Is the judge impressed by this evidence? Be specific. Read the pages below from the judge’s decision.

–Describe closing arguments of the plaintiffs (parents) and defendants (the Dover school board).

–Study the judge’s decision (found on line here:

http://ncse.com/files/pub/legal/kitzmiller/highlights/2005-12-20_Kitzmiller_decision.pdf (Links to an external site.)

 

In particular, read pages 63-89, 115, and 130-139 of this decision, and in your essay tell what the judge has to say about

 

a) the possible religious motives of members of the school board.

b) whether ID meets the criteria of a testable scientific hypothesis or theory.   Why! Be specific.

c) why it is or is not OK to teach ID in science classes of public schools.

Discuss the biological and behavioral characteristics of Homo erectus that demonstrate this.

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Possible Essay Questions

One question from each of the categories below will appear on your exam. You can best prepare for the essay questions by writing out your answer to each one and practicing it as you study. An added benefit of doing this is that you will also be reviewing key concepts that will be useful for the rest of the exam.

 

 SOURCES TO USE:

 

1.http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/moral-dilemma-we-face-age-of-humans-180952909/?no-ist.

2.https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/busting-myths-about-human-nature/201403/why-normal-is-myth

3.http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/origin-species-beak-finch

4.https://www.sierracollege.edu/ejournals/jscnhm/v2n2/EvolutionAction.html

5.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlN7K1-9QB0&feature=youtu.be

6.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1_-mQS_FZ0&feature=youtu.be

7.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWqgZUnJdAY&feature=youtu.be

8.http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/features/142195/beyond-dna-epigenetics

9.https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/busting-myths-about-human-nature/201401/genes-are-not-fortune-tellers

10.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9a-ru2ES6Y&feature=youtu.be

11.https://www.avert.org/professionals/history-hiv-aids/origin#footnote9_ygu9xti

12.http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/medicine_01

13.http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/aids-evolution-epidemic

14.http://discovermagazine.com/1992/jun/13-whatslovegottodo56

15.https://phys.org/news/2015-04-chimps-senegal-fashion-spears.html

16.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz1a7MzHtOQ&feature=youtu.be

17.http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-human-familys-earliest-ancestors-7372974/?no-ist

18.http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-family-tree

19.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/cooking-up-bigger-brains/

20.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-naked-truth/

21.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKNAA4wLpVY&feature=youtu.be

22.http://physanth.org/about/position-statements/biological-aspects-race/

23.https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/busting-myths-about-human-nature/201305/how-not-be-racist

24.https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/busting-myths-about-human-nature/201204/race-is-real-not-in-the-way-many-people-think

25.http://historynewsnetwork.org/article/1796

26.https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/busting-myths-about-human-nature/201205/men-and-women-are-the-same-species

27.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N56CSDu_ZdU&feature=youtu.be

 

PRIMATES

1.     Chimpanzees and bonobos, our closest living relatives, are very closely related to each other and, as such, share much of their anatomy and social behavior. However, there are some pretty significant differences between the two species. Discuss the similarities and differences between chimpanzees and bonobos using specific, well-explained examples of their anatomy and, particularly, their behavior. What do you think helps explain why they are different? You will want to use lecture, the tutorials, readings, and The New Chimpanzees. Be specific. 2-3 substantive paragraphs.

2.     Primates are generally considered among the most intelligent mammals. This intelligence is seen in their capacity for behavioral flexibility and most primatologists agree that it is appropriate to characterize the behavior of some primates, primarily apes, as cultural. What is culture and how can we think about culture in a nonhuman primate context? What behaviors in nonhuman primates are considered cultural? Why? Be specific with your examples and do not limit yourself to tool use in chimpanzees. Answers that only include tool use in chimpanzees will be considered incomplete. You will want to use lecture, the tutorials, readings, The New Chimpanzees, and Ape Genius. Be specific. 2-3 substantive paragraphs.

 

HOMININS

1.     Homo erectus is often considered the first truly human species. Why? Discuss the biological and behavioral characteristics of Homo erectus that demonstrate this. You will want to use lecture, the tutorials, readings, and Becoming Human II: The Birth of Humanity. Be specific. 2-3 substantial paragraphs.

2.     Until recently, there were several competing models that described the origin and dispersal of anatomically modern humans but several recent genetic studies show that one model, the Mostly Out of Africa or Leaky Replacement model, best describes our current understanding of the fossil and genetic evidence. Discuss the genetic and fossil evidence for this model and trace the migration of modern Homo sapiens across the globe. Pay special attention to modern human interactions with the other living human populations they encountered. You will want to use lecture, the tutorials, readings, and The Human Family Tree. Be specific. 2-3 substantial paragraphs.

 

t suggest how RNA compares to DNA in regards to genetic material. please make 75 words or better.

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Examine three (3) differences between DNA and RNA then explain two (2) main reasons why DNA is the most favorable molecule for genetic material. Next suggest how RNA compares to DNA in regards to genetic material.

please make 75 words or better.

Discuss how zoos have evolved over the last 50 years to become conservation centers. Incorporate the role of zoos in educating the public into your response.

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      1. Discuss how zoos have evolved over the last 50 years to become conservation centers. Incorporate the role of zoos in educating the public into your response.
      2. Discuss some of the economic pressures faced by zoos – namely space, capacity and resources– that can affect their conservation efforts.
      3. How does a species get on the Endangered Species List?
      4. Take a virtual trip to the zoo using one of the links below and observe at least one of the endangered species.

      Take a Virtual Visit to the Zoo

      You can take a virtual visit to the zoo any day of the week by tuning into any of the following live web cams, which feature many endangered animals. The World Wildlife Fund lists many of these animals as priority species.

      1. Choose one animal from the webcam links above and observe its behavior at several different times during the day or over the course of several days. Take notes on its behavior and briefly summarize what you observed. Chose 4 or 5 different time points (on the hour or half hour, it does not need to be the same day or the exact time point). Use this interactive chart to help you record the animal’s behavior, then create a pie chart using excel or other chart software such as the one provided below: Animal Behavior Recording Chart: http://rwtinteractives.ncte.org/view_interactive.aspx?id=32

      Chart Recording Software: http://www.onlinecharttool.com/

      Give your chart a title and include it in your essay.

      Your chart should look similar to this one:

             Panda Bear Activity

      1. Did your perception of the species you watched change as a result of seeing it on the webcam? Why or why not?
      2. Do you believe technology has a positive influence on people’s feelings toward wildlife and conservation? Why or why not?
    2. Discuss some of the economic pressures faced by zoos – namely space, capacity and resources– that can affect their conservation efforts.
    3. How does a species get on the Endangered Species List?
    4. Take a virtual trip to the zoo using one of the links below and observe at least one of the endangered species.

    Take a Virtual Visit to the Zoo

    You can take a virtual visit to the zoo any day of the week by tuning into any of the following live web cams, which feature many endangered animals. The World Wildlife Fund lists many of these animals as priority species.

    1. Choose one animal from the webcam links above and observe its behavior at several different times during the day or over the course of several days. Take notes on its behavior and briefly summarize what you observed. Chose 4 or 5 different time points (on the hour or half hour, it does not need to be the same day or the exact time point). Use this interactive chart to help you record the animal’s behavior, then create a pie chart using excel or other chart software such as the one provided below: Animal Behavior Recording Chart: http://rwtinteractives.ncte.org/view_interactive.aspx?id=32

    Chart Recording Software: http://www.onlinecharttool.com/

    Give your chart a title and include it in your essay.

    Your chart should look similar to this one:

           Panda Bear Activity

    1. Did your perception of the species you watched change as a result of seeing it on the webcam? Why or why not?
    2. Do you believe technology has a positive influence on people’s feelings toward wildlife and conservation? Why or why not?
  2. Discuss some of the economic pressures faced by zoos – namely space, capacity and resources– that can affect their conservation efforts.
  3. How does a species get on the Endangered Species List?
  4. Take a virtual trip to the zoo using one of the links below and observe at least one of the endangered species.

Take a Virtual Visit to the Zoo

You can take a virtual visit to the zoo any day of the week by tuning into any of the following live web cams, which feature many endangered animals. The World Wildlife Fund lists many of these animals as priority species.

  1. Choose one animal from the webcam links above and observe its behavior at several different times during the day or over the course of several days. Take notes on its behavior and briefly summarize what you observed. Chose 4 or 5 different time points (on the hour or half hour, it does not need to be the same day or the exact time point). Use this interactive chart to help you record the animal’s behavior, then create a pie chart using excel or other chart software such as the one provided below: Animal Behavior Recording Chart: http://rwtinteractives.ncte.org/view_interactive.aspx?id=32

Chart Recording Software: http://www.onlinecharttool.com/

Give your chart a title and include it in your essay.

Your chart should look similar to this one:

       Panda Bear Activity

  1. Did your perception of the species you watched change as a result of seeing it on the webcam? Why or why not?
  2. Do you believe technology has a positive influence on people’s feelings toward wildlife and conservation? Why or why not?