Assignment 2 (10 points):

• Biochemistry and molecular biology are a rapidly growing and changing fields.  They epitomize many scientific fields in that ideas and information are frequently replaced by new information and interpretations.  In order to keep up, it is important to read the research journals in which scientists report their research results and their interpretations of their own, and others' work.  These reports are often highly technical, and by their nature are usually narrow in scope.  One can keep abreast fairly well, although not quite as up-to-date, by reading "reviews".  These are secondary sources.  Some are written by professional journalists or "science writers".  Others are written by the same people who are actively involved in cutting edge research.  Scientific American is a magazine in which well-known scientists write reviews of their own work, or sometimes broader reviews of their own fields of study.

 

 The assignment, due day 4 of class, in class,  is to peruse the last year of Scientific American.  If some issues are missing, it is O.K.  Look at the most recent 12 issues you can find.

A. Count the number of articles which you think pertain to biochemistry and molecular biology.  Write down which issues you looked through, and your total count of  related articles.   There is no need to list the articles, though you may if you wish.  Just note the total count.

B. Choose one that seems interesting.  Read it.  Write, as a coherent essay, not a list of answers to these questions [this should not be more than a page, total], and remember to include a proper citation:

 1. Brief  (approximately one paragraph) summary of the main points in the article (from the author's point of view). - do not try to go into detail, just write what the article was about, in your own words.

2. The one or two points which you found most important, interesting, intriguing, or new to yourself.

3. At least one issue or question which follows from the work described i.e. what the next step should be.

4. At least 1 future implication (e.g. medical) of this work.

5. At least 1 ethical implication of this work  (or its future potential as discussed for #4).

 6. How the material presented in the article relates to some issue other than what is specifically mentioned by the author.

**  Please note that you are asked to summarize the topic, not review or describe either the article or the author(s).  DO NOT QUOTE.  Use your own words to summarize the material, and then to respond to it.  Use the questions outlined above as guidelines to organize your essay.  DO NOT use these questions as if they were exam questions to be addressed by number, in order.  Do not assume, as you write, that the reader has read this assignment sheet & questions.