Dr. Stuart Reichler’s Spring 2007 Bio 301L Homework #4
due
30 April 2007 at 11am

    We have discussed the connection between nature and nurture in class, and almost everyday researchers are finding more genetic and environmental connections to human traits.  As we learn more about the factors that lead to various traits, we are gaining the ability to make more accurate predictions about people's traits based on information such as their genes and environment.  This type of information is already
indirectly asked for by insurance companies and doctors when they ask about the health of your ancestors, and/or where you are from.

   
What should we do with the information that is being collected about people's genes, environment, and various traits?  Can estimations about someone's risk for a disease or certain behavior be accurately made?  If not, will these types of estimations ever be accurate?  Do these estimations present a danger?  Can jobs, insurance or school admittance be denied based on a prediction of future risk?  This assignment should not exceed three pages, and obviously you cannot answer all of these questions in three pages, so giving a complete answer to any one or a subset of these questions will be acceptable.


    Be certain to cite any outside sources that you use.  Using outside sources is fine, but not citing those sources is plagiarism.  This assignment should not exceed three pages.  This homework will be graded on a scale of 0-4 points.  Remember that your top three homework scores will be used to determine your grade with a maximum of 12 points possible.  If you already have 12 homework points, you do not need to do this assignment.  The typed/word-processed paper should be printed and turned in during class on April 30, 2007 at 11am in classI will subtract 0.5 points for each day late.
    If you have any questions, please ask.