Health Sciences: The Whole Individual
SWeD (1 semester, .5 credit, prerequisite none)
Will we ever find a cure for cancer? What treatments are best for conditions like diabetes and asthma? How are illnesses like meningitis, tuberculosis, and the measles identified and diagnosed? Health sciences provide the answers to questions such as these. In this course, students will be introduced to the various disciplines within the health sciences, including toxicology, clinical medicine, and biotechnology. They will explore the importance of diagnostics and research in the identification and treatment of diseases. The course presents information and terminology for the health sciences and examines the contributions of different health science areas.
Biotechnology
SWLi (9 weeks, .25 credit, prerequisite Biology)
The Biotechnology Module is divided into two units. The first section provides a background on the basics of biotechnology and includes its historical context, laboratory equipment, and techniques, and safety criteria, and gives a comparison between research and production laboratories. The first section concludes with a review of basic chemistry and comparative cellular and molecular biology concepts. The second section presents more advanced topics and the current application of biotechnology. These topics include the structure and functions of proteins, genetic sequencing, polymerase chain reactions, genetic transformation, and the use of antibodies in biotechnology. The second unit culminates by introducing professionalism and a sample of the careers available in the field of biotechnology.
Stem Cell Research
SWLi (9 weeks, .25 credit, prerequisite Biology)
Stem Cell Research, a two-unit course, will introduce students to the fascinating world of stem cells. Students will learn all the basic terminology used in this field. The course will discuss the different types of stem cells, as well as the controversies surrounding the use of human embryonic stem cells. Additionally, the course will examine possibilities that may be in store for the treatment of disease using stem cell therapy. The first unit emphasizes the impact of modern research methods and resources on stem cell research and explores some challenges that still exist in the field. Students will learn the advantages, disadvantages, and limitations of stem cell research. This section concludes with an examination of the possible alternate sources of stem cells. The second unit examines the applications and the roles of