MAINPAGE (JAN – APR 2012)

terry home | course outline | PBL info | ASIC200 Exam

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WELCOME!

General details for ASIC200 such as office hours, philosophy, grading, due dates can be found in the course outline link.

This page aims to collect concurrent pertinent info regarding the weekly lectures. This includes the pre-reading assignments, copies of Dave and Allen’s lecture notes, further reading, interesting links, assignment/scheduling reminders. In other words, a good place to bookmark, and check back at least once a week.

Note that we will be using a twitter hashtag for community networking. “#ASIC200” We will ask that everyone participate in this activity, so do please sign up an account at twitter.com (You can even use an anonymous name if you prefer).

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COURSE TIMELINE/NOTES

09/10. MAR 22/29, 2012
DNA fingerprint lab. Full details on the lab and lab assignment can be found at this link. Data will be presented by beginning of April on this website (you’ll be notified via email).

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07/08. MAR 8/15, 2012
Personal Genomics Humanities Lecture: Allen’s Slides (1.2M pdf) | Allen’s Notes (240K pdf)

“… stressed how the personal genomics issue is embedded in a larger set of issues related to microbiology and biotechnology in general and genetics in particular. A few examples of the relevant interfaces between the sciences and the arts on the genetics front include:
• Medicine (genetic testing, gene therapy, cloning, pharmaceuticals)
• Health care (practices, policies)
• Industry (chemicals, energy) • Agriculture (GM crops/food)
• Legal and regulatory systems (court decisions, government legislation)
• Domestic politics (rights, minority groups)
• International/Global contexts

…”

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07. MAR 8, 2012
The conclusion of Dave’s science section of the personalized genomics section.
DN notes/slides* (1.4M pdf)
* Note that some stats have changed since the notes were written. Specifically, costs for Illumina’s “Sequence your own genome!” has dropped to about $9000 per person. Less if you can get a group of 5 to 10 ($5000), and even less if there’s more than 50 of you ($4000). Pretty soon, you’ll be seeing a Groupon on this.

[1] What the sequencing data was good for initially.
[2] Let’s just sequence a genome – The Human Genome!
[3] Looking at SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms)
[4] Let’s just sequence everyones genome! (Personal Genomics!)
[5] Personalized Medicine.

Some interesting links (just because).
In case you have an extra $9000 lying around – Illumina personal sequencing.
Human Genome Project papers – public versus private
Video on the pump sequencing scenario I briefly alluded to (because it’s fancy)
Access to Medicine stuff that Henry talked about at the beginning of class. Here’s a good place to learn more (some back history).

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06. MAR 1, 2012
Today, we started the unit on personalized genomics.
DN notes/slides (1.8M pdf) - note that some slides were removed.
[1] Some context and basic definition of personalized genomics.
[2] Some DNA basics.
[3] How exactly does the code lead to phenotypes.
[4] Molecular biology! (Specifically, DNA replication, gel electrophoresis, and Sanger Sequencing)

Some interesting links (just because).
Breakfast of Champions does Replication
A MONK’S FLOURISHING GARDEN: THE BASICS OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY EXPLAINED

Don’t forget to start thinking (and writing) your FAQ. Here are some to give you a sense of what we’re looking for (1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5). Keep in mind, however, that there is also a creative component – sometimes, like most of the ones highlighted above, an FAQ will “incorporate” this; more often, however, this is done as a separate piece. Overall, however, marks are based on good information, a reasonable mix of science and humanities, good writing, good engagement, and all backed up diligently by evidence (i.e. don’t forget your primary resources and references!). The creative element is also worth marks, but is actually quite a small part of the total mark. See FAQ requirements at the bottom of this page for full details. Good luck!

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05. FEB 2, 2012
1. Dave Lecture on Science Fixes.
a. Dealing with fossil fuel emissions.
b. Dealing with retention of heat.
c. Dealing with conventional fossil fuels depletion.

2. Kyoto exercise.
Reflection question (pdf of full exercise):
In your one page lab report/reflection (due next week in class), answer the following questions:

• Where you able to reach a consensus or agreement on a strategy, or parts of a strategy, in your group? Why or why not? Focus on issues and debates, not on persons.

• In what ways did you agree with the strategies developed by your group? In what ways did you disagree or have reservations?

• Do you believe the strategies your group recommended for Canada, or the strategies you personally believe ought to be adopted by Canada, have a realistic chance of being adopted? Why or why not?

This can be in any written format you like, but make sure you can be understood! Send your reflections to: asic200@gmail.com

The following pdfs were created by the class groups in response to the first part of the exercise.
Group 1 Canada and Climate Change – What Now
Group Nicole, Beckie, Serena etc
Group 8 Lab
Group Jess, Sonia, Katie etc.
Group Isabel, Chelsea, Forrest etc
Group Emily, Aimee, Anne etc
Group Abby, Kevin, Avery etc
Group 7 lab
Group 5 Lab
Group 1 Canada and Climate Change – What Now
Group Shari, Fatima, Stefani etc

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03/04. JAN 19/26, 2012
Climate Change Humanities Lecture: Allen’s Slides (250k pdf) | Allen’s Notes (200k pdf)

“Climate change is a challenge for human society on many levels, and these are concerns and issues raised frequently in the social sciences and humanities. There is a vital humanistic component to climate the change issue, both in terms of its origins (how we got here) and mitigation and adaptation strategies (how do we get out of here). ”

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02. JAN 12, 2012
Climate Change Science Lecture: Dave’s Slides (1.5Mb pdf) | Dave’s Notes (0.6Mb pdf)

General Organization of lecture:
[1] Laying down a few facts: (i) It’s getting hotter, (ii) CO2 levels are going up (and it’s our fault), (iii) CO2 absorbs heat energy (greenhouse gas).
[2] Hypothesis #1: Temperature change is primarily caused by CO2. i.e. not just a correlation. We know this because we can calculate the effects of the CO2 we emit into the atmosphere.
[3] Hypothesis #2: Using modelling techniques (which are ultimately based on mathematical representations of physical laws), we can make predictions of future outcomes. Modelling can also provide us with targets to aim for.
[4] Close with some slides on why it’s been difficult to meet these targets (at least from an individual level).

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01. JAN 5, 2012
Introduction and course logistics – link
*Dave’s section. Part 1| 2 | 3 | 4
*Allen’s section. slides | notes (pdf files)

*Note that neither section will be examinable.

- Do check out the course readings for the Climate Change unit (scroll down in the course outline). It’s not crucial that you read it all before the lectures start, but definitely do check them out before the unit is up.

- Do set up a twitter account, so that you can contribute to the #ASIC200 twitter feed. This will be the best place to check out links on things mentioned during class (i.e. if you check now, you’ll be diverted by links to things about Martian Canals, MacDonald’s, Project Steve, and Chewbacca), as well as other interesting things to read. We’re hoping that everyone provides at least one good link per week (think of it as a one stop microblog on global issues), and that it can also act as a channel where folks in the class can interact with each other (and to Dave and Allen) by sending out ideas or questions. From a utility point of view, twitter is most useful as a mechanism to get info from the people you’ve selected to follow (this could be your buddy, somebody that inspires you, a particular news agency, politician, etc), and to get this info in real time (it can also be awesome during conferences or events generally). However, it’s also commonly used as another platform for social media – if you’re thinking of doing that, you should maybe check out this great (and amusing) etiquette guide. If you get into it, we also suggest using some free software (like tweetdeck or hootsuite) to help you better organize your twitter activity.