HTHSCI 4MS3 - Molecular Sociology

Wednesdays (Fall Term): 2:30-5:20

Location: MDCL 3015

Instructor: P.K. Rangachari

TENTATIVE COURSE OUTLINE

OVERALL OBJECTIVES: We live in a molecular world. The air we breathe, the food we eat, the fluids we drink are composed of molecules. Living cells exposed to these molecules do not classify them as drugs, poisons or nutrients. They respond to these based on their concentrations. Drugs that treat can easily kill. Society, however makes clear distinctions and sets in train a system for categorizing, classifying, regulating and monitoring their use. This course will focus on a set of molecules that can be categorized in diverse ways depending on circumstances. Potassium chloride can be used to reduce sodium in the diet (nutrient), used to treat hypokalemia (therapy) or to quietly remove unwanted ones from circulation (poison). The course will focus on the sociallives of these molecules.It will be assumed that all of you are sufficiently familiar with the biological aspects.

As with all Inquiry courses there will be both process and content elements.

Content: By the end of this course you would have recognized the interplay between diverse social groups that underpin the use of biologically relevant molecules that are categorized as drugs, nutrients and poisons. For the purposes of this course, the social groups themselves will be divided into “makers”, “pushers”, “users” and “watchers”.

The makers are those who design, develop, manufacture, market and distribute these molecules. The pushers (not used in a pejorative sense) include those that promote, foster and encourage the use of these molecules for specific ends (e.g. includes physicians, nutritionists, pharmacists, nurses, hospitals, peddlers of illicit drugs), the watchers are members of society that assess the value and safety these substances and include not only standard regulatory agencies but critics, journalists, law enforcement agencies etc. Finally, all members of the public are potential users-even those who could belong professionally to any of the other groups.

The process elements are fairly generic. These are the ways and means by which you will function as both independent and shared learners in demonstrating that you have acquired the content elements mentioned below. You will be expected to search, synthesize, integrate information from a variety of sources, participate effectively in the class room, present information clearly and assess that provided by others in a critical manner.

You will be provided TWO lists, one of molecules and another of members of social groups. The molecules could fit one or more of the 3 groups, nutrient, therapeutic drug or poison. Similarly, the members of each social group could fit one or more categories.

Your task is to consider the list of molecules provided ( see below) and slot them into ONE of the 3 categories. You can choose either the SAME molecule or a DIFFERENT ONE for each category. You will then select from the list of social groups (see list), an appropriate one for each category and frame a suitable commentary from the perspective of that group. Thus, you will submit 3 written reports. You can choose to look at each molecule from the perspective of the same social group or from different perspectives. In each instance, you must justify your choice.

You will have considerable freedom in framing these reports. You can select the format best suited to thatparticularperspective, e.g. dialogue/ formal report/newspaper article/story/play.

MOLECULE LIST: Alcohol/Nicotine/Fentanyl/Vitamin D/Corticosteroids/Testosterone

Insulin/Ritalin/NSAIDS/Aspartame/Creatine/THC/Monosodum Glutamate/Omega-3 Fatty Acids/Beta Blockers/Caffeine/Oral Contraceptives/Salt Substitutes/Gingko/Ginseng/ Antibiotics/Anti-Histaminics/Anti-Malarials/Epinephrine/Atropine/Digitalis/Warfarin/ Organophosphorus Insecticides/ /Statins/Benzodiazepines/Fructose/ Capsaicin/Lithium/Gardasil

PERSPECTIVES LIST: Pharmacist/Nurse /Sales-Rep/Owner of Health Food Store/Journalist/Novelist/Police Officer/School Principal/Restaurant Owner/Farmer/PregnantMother/Veterinarian/Drug Dealer /Junkie/Patent Agent/Lawyer/Teen/Athlete/ Marketing Firm/Naturopath/Chemist/Physician/

All reports will be assessed on 3 CRITERIA: CONTENT/CLARITY/CORROBORATION (annotated references are crucial)

In addition, each student should select ONE of their reports for apresentation to the class. These presentations will not be assessed. However, each student in the class will select ONE of the presentations and write a CRITICAL COMMENTARY on what they learned from that presentation. These commentaries will be shared with the others. The guidelines for these will be provided later.

OBJECT LESSONS (A RIFF): This will be an individual exercise that will be held on a specific day. A set of objects will be provided that contains one or more molecules that could fit into either of the 3 categories. These could be an ointment, a pill, a patch, a bottled drink etc. Your task will be to describe the object and comment on the molecule or molecules present from any social perspective. You will be given a week to complete this project and will be assessed by your peers in an informal presentation session. This is an Improv exercise (like riffing on a musical theme) which will be an opportunity for you to demonstrate your abilities to be spontaneous, learn to set your own objectives, frame learning tasks, search for information and share it with your peers.

Assessments:

Final Written Reports (25 MARKS)—since there are 3 reports, these will add up to 75 marks. Each report will be graded on Content (15), Clarity (5) and Corroboration (5)

Critical Commentary (15 MARKS): Each student will be select ONE of the reports presented and write a detailed critical commentary. The Guidelines will be given later. These commentaries will be shared with the rest of the class.

OBJECT Lessons (10 MARKS); Peer-Assessment using specific criteria.

TOTAL (100 Marks)

STUDENT NAME:

CHOICES MADE

CATEGORY / MOLECULE / PERSPECTIVE / REMARKS
DRUG
POISON
NUTRIENT

IMPORTANT ELEMENTS: DO NOT IGNORE

The instructor, program and the university reserve the right to modify elements of the course during the term. The university may change the dates and deadlines for any or all courses in extreme circumstances. If modifications become necessary, reasonable notice and communication with the students will be given. Students will be provided with an explanation and an opportunity to comment. It is the responsibility of the student to check their McMaster email and the course website/LearnLink weekly during term. Any significant changes will be made in consultation with the BHSc Assistant Dean.

Knowledge (particularly scientific) is cumulative and co-operative. “Sui generis” is more fiction than fact. There is no disgrace in referencing others. Do so properly. Annotate your references. All reports must be in your own words as far as possible. If you find that an author has stated things far better than you, use those words but place them in quotations. Do not pass them off as your own. That is dishonest. This behaviour can result in serious consequences, e.g. the grade of zero on course work, loss of credit with a notation on the transcript (notation reads: “Grade of F assigned for academic dishonesty”), and/or suspension or expulsion from the university. It is your responsibility to understand what constitutes academic dishonesty. For information on the various types of academic dishonesty please refer to the Academic Integrity Policy, located at

The following illustrates only three forms of academic dishonesty:
a. Plagiarism, e.g. the submission of work that is not one’s own or for which other credit has been obtained.
b. Improper collaboration in group work.
c. Copying or using unauthorized aids in tests and examinations.

3. I want to explain at the outset my attitude towards marks so that there is no confusion. There is a popular notion that students start with a 100% and lose marks. I do not subscribe to that notion. You start with ZERO and start accumulating them. I will give you comments but once a mark has been given I will not change it UNLESS there is a calculating error. Changing a mark for one student is quite unfair since it penalizes the ones who have not come forward for whatever reason. I will not entertain ANY discussions on that score. If you feel strongly that the mark you have received is not appropriate, you will follow official procedures to have your marks re-assessed. Conversion from percentages to letter grades will follow the standard McMaster procedure.

% / Letter / % / Letter / % / Letter / % / Letter / % / Letter
90-100 / A+ / 77-79 / B+ / 67-69 / C+ / 57-59 / D+
85-89 / A / 73-76 / B / 63-66 / C / 53-56 / D / 0-49 / F
80-84 / A- / 70-72 / B- / 60-62 / C- / 50-52 / D-

4. Attendance: Since most sessions are interactive, I expect students to attend. If you miss tests, assignments etc., I will require appropriate documentation for any accommodation.

5. DEADLINES:

I am very ambivalent about deadlines and make my position transparent so there are NO misunderstandings. On the one hand, I believe that rigid deadlines hinder true learning. If one wants to be a life- long learner, SHE who knows best sets the only true deadline.Since SHE has not given me any clear instructions, I will have to use my discretion. The real problem is that students do not delay handing in items BECAUSE they want to learn better but because they focus on different issues. By not penalizing late submissions, teachers do injustice to those who follow them. Also, the Registrar’s office and the calendar constrain us. So, for this course I am going to shift some of that responsibility onto you. You will be given sufficient notice about due dates. I expect you to meet them.

TIMELINES

DATE / ACTIVITY
Sep 6 / INTRODUCTION
Sep13 / Discussions
Sep 20 / Discussions
Sep 27 / Discussions
Oct 4 / Discussions
Oct 11 / BREAK NO CLASSES
Oct 18 / Discussions
Oct 25 / PRESENTATIONS (sign-up)
Nov 1 / PRESENTATIONS(sign-up)
Nov 8 / COMMENTARIES DISCUSSED
Nov 15 / OBJECT LESSONS
Nov 22 / OBJECT LESSONS
Nov 29 / All written reports due
Dec 6 / Wrap Up