| “The Way We Work With Life”: A course for general undergraduate and the general public covering, in simple terms, basic knowledge about DNA and the exploding fields of Biotechnology
Kausch, Albert P. (B) (A) Gomez-Chiarri, Marta (A) (B) Longo, Chip (B)
(A) Currently, there is a wide disparity between the knowledge of the general public about DNA and biotechnology and the actual science and its’ applications. This gap is growing wider every day and has created a current educational crisis about DNA, how life works and biotechnology. A working knowledge of DNA, genetics, and biotechnology has become as fundamental to a basic education as an understanding of the solar system. The material and format for a new course on general biotechnology has created a versatile platform for teaching about the various topics in biotechnology today. This course is intended for the general public, life sciences industry science and non-science staff, high school teachers and undergraduate students regardless of their major or degree program. There are no prerequisites. The course aims to accomplish three goals: 1) to provide basic knowledge about DNA and gene expression that is fundamental to the how biological life functions, 2) to present the array of current applications in biotechnology, and career opportunities in the growing fields that are related to biotechnology; and 3) to examine issues and ethics concerning the future of biotechnology and our society. A CD has been created and the platform of materials allows for the presentation of independent modules on the various topics. This very flexible platform has been used to develop workshops for various industries and their science and non-science staff. The more our society understands the fundamentals about biotechnology the better equipped they will be to participate, affecting career opportunities, economic development, policy and decision making, as well as general consumer education in a life long learning process. |
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