BIO 18161: Biotechnology and Society

Explore the body's fight-or-flight response and its link to caffeine's effects. Learn how the interruption of cAMP phosphodiesterase leads to prolonged alertness and why caffeine can result in sleeplessness.

Explore the indispensable role of decomposers in ecosystems. Understand their impact on nutrient cycling, energy flow, and ecological balance. Realize what Earth would face without these vital organisms.

Explore the pivotal role of enhancers in gene expression as we dissect their function and interaction with transcription factors. Gain insights into how they crucially influence the transcriptional control of genes.

Discover how our brain interprets the scent of smoke differently based on context. Compare reactions in an open campfire setting versus an enclosed residence hall. Understand the underlying mechanisms of olfactory fatigue and context-driven alarm responses.

Dive into the world of cellular respiration, where glucose transforms into energy-rich ATP. Unpack the crucial steps that occur mainly within the mitochondria, resulting in the release of carbon dioxide and the production of the cell's primary energy currency. Decode life's foundational energy process and its significance in cellular functions.

Explore the key concepts that might illustrate the unity among all organisms including emergent properties descent with modification and natural selection. Understand why the structure and function of DNA ultimately stand as the best example of this unity