Mr. Walker9/16/10Period 4

Current Events

Scientific information is not a stagnant collection of knowledge. Science pursues explanations to questions about the universe. As technology improves, we are able to observe and record data in new ways. New data and observations offer new explanations or changes in explanations to universal phenomena. In an attempt to keep up to date with the rapidly changing world, we are going to report on current scientific discoveries and news. You will need to do one current event per month of the school year. Each current event is due the last school day of that month and will be shared with me in a Google Document.

Google Docs: You will access your Google Docs account from the Mount Nittany Library homepage. ( I suggest bookmarking it.)

1.)Go to the Mount Nittany Homepage (I suggest making this your default homepage)

2.)Click on MNMS Library link on the Site Shortcuts on the left side of the page.

3.)In the middle of the page (to the left of the teeth) there is a link for Google APPS; click on it.

4.)You will be prompted to enter your username (email, mine is jaw27) and your password.

5.)I will demonstrate how to share create and share documents in Google APPS.

Requirements:

1.)Name, Date, and Period in the header of your Google Doc.

2.)Title of the article you will be summarizing centered at the top of the page.

3.)URL link to the source of your article (if it is from a newspaper or magazine, I will need a copy of it handed it to me.)xz-

4.)A 3 paragraph, double-spaced, summary answering the following questions (A paragraph is at least 5 sentences with a capital letter at the beginning and a punctuation mark at the end):

5.)Save your current event as (Your name, Month, Period…… Mr. Walker, September, Period 4). Share the document with me and include me as an editor.

1.) What is the new discovery or “event” that is being described in your article. Essentially, summarize the overall article using the 4 of the 5 W’s

Who? What? When? Where?

Include any important information regarding how this new discovery or information was possible (I.E. – a new protein was isolated that controls nerve impulses in the brain; Hubble Space Telescope took pictures)

2.) How does this information relate to what we are studying in class? If we are studying genetics, your article must relate to genetics in some capacity. Relate what you learned in class to what is being described in the article.

3.) What impacts will this new discovery or information have on society? What does it mean? Will it make medicine cheaper, diabetes patients able to eat whatever they want, cancer patients to face milder symptoms? WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT TO US?

An example is shown on the back of this page.

Government Approves Study Using Human Embryonic Stem Cells

A private biotechnology will attempt to treat humans with embryonic stem cells. The company, located in California will take advantage of the recent removal of a ban against government funding for stem cell research. The company will use stem cells to treat patients with spinal cord injuries. The hope is that these stem cells will “regenerate” into spinal nerve cells that will allow patients to gain back movement. The trial also serves as a test for safety in humans. The cells have been used on animals in the past with no problems. The funding is made possible by recent presidential elect Obama’s lift of former President Bush’s ban on government funding for stem cell research.

Stem cells have the same DNA as other cells in our body. However, these cells have not “become” a specific cell yet. By manipulating the DNA of the cell, scientists can get cells to “become” different cells such as a skin cell or in this case, a spinal cell. This is similar to GMO’s that we have talked about in class. A GMO or Genetically Modified Organism is an organism that has had a gene from another organism inserted into its DNA. Some bacterial cells have an insulin gene (a gene is a segment of DNA that codes for the production of certain proteins) inserted into their DNA to manufacture insulin for diabetes patients. DNA codes for the production of proteins that makes everything in our body work.

The use of stem cells has an endless list of possibilities. Researchers hope to cure many genetic diseases such as diabetes. They also hope to use gene therapy to possibly reduce symptoms of certain diseases or cure problems such as paralysis. The idea of curing a paralyzed individual so that they may walk again is amazing. The funding from the government for such projects will offer jobs to doctors and lab technicians. It will more importantly give hope to patients who have little of being cured.

Remember:

●2 or more students may have the same article. Their paragraphs should be much different as it is their own opinions..

●Don’t wait until the last minute. This assignment encourages daily reading in the science and technology field.

●I may ask you to read your summary to the class or share what you have found. Learn about the information in your article so that you may answer questions about it.

●Re-read your current event before handing it in to check for spelling and grammar mistakes.

***Each current event is worth 25 points and will be graded based on punctuality, fulfillment of required information, and spelling and grammar.***