HIST 3734: History of Modern Biology CRN 96866, T, TH 9:30-10:45 A.M., Major Bill 334

Instructor: Dr. Mark V. Barrow, Jr.

Office: 432 Major Williams

Phone: 231-4099 (O), 552-5876 (H—before 9:30 p.m.)

Office Hours: T, Th 11:00-12:00 noon., and by appt.

URL: http://www.history.vt.edu/barrow/hist3734

E-mail: barrow@vt.edu

Course Description and Objectives:

This course uses readings, discussions, essays, and videos to explore the development of biology from the early nineteenth to the beginning of the twenty-first centuries, with a particular emphasis on the reciprocal relationship between biology and society. The course will focus on three related fields that are central to modern biology: evolution, genetics, and ecology/conservation biology.

Having completed this course, students will be able to:

*     Trace the main trends in the development of biology—especially the fields of evolution, genetics, and ecology/conservation biology—over the last two centuries

*     Analyze the historical relationship between biological knowledge and society

*     Identify key theories, practices, and individuals that have been central to the growth of modern biology

*     Discuss tensions between various approaches to biological research (description vs. control, reductionism vs. holism, basic vs. applied)

Required Readings:

*     Edward J. Larson, Evolution: The Remarkable History of a Scientific Theory

*     Charles Darwin, Origin of Species, 1^st ed.

*     Diane B. Paul, Controlling Human Heredity: 1865 to the Present

*     James D. Watson, The Double Helix

*     Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac

All books are available at the University Bookstore, Volume II Bookstore, and Virginia Tech Bookstore, as well as online (at, e.g., amazon.com). They have also been placed on reserve at Newman Library. I will post additional readings or videos on Scholar.

Evaluation:

Final grades for the course will be based on the following formula:

*     Attendance and Participation: 20%

*     Homework: 12%

*     Four Short Papers @ 12% each: 48%

*     Final Exam: 20%

Attendance and Participation:

This class is designed to facilitate active learning and give students a primary role in the presentation and discussion of class material. To achieve these goals, students must attend each class meeting, complete the assigned reading and any other exercises or assignments before class, and offer informed contributions to the class discussion. To encourage and reward class attendance, preparation, and participation, I will regularly take attendance and assign homework exercises throughout the semester. If I sense that students are not coming to class prepared or not participating adequately, I may also give unscheduled quizzes.

The participation component of the final grade will be based on how actively students engage in discussions and other exercises we complete during class and how well they prepare themselves by reading and thinking about the assigned material before class. I encourage questions, welcome alternative viewpoints, and expect everyone to demonstrate respect for the ideas of their fellow students.

Homework and Discussion Questions:

On most days, I will ask students to formulate questions to guide our discussion. These are due by the beginning of class (and we will experiment with posting them in Scholar before class). Crafting effective discussion questions is an art that takes some practice. In general, questions about specific "facts" presented in the reading do not elicit much useful discussion. But broader questions that ask the class to interpret what the author is arguing, analyze the position from which the author is writing, evaluate the evidence or arguments being presented, or compare a given day's reading with other things we've learned for the course generally work well. I also want you to generate questions on things in the reading that you find interesting, confusing, or problematic.

Students will also complete numerous homework assignments. Homework assignments and discussion questions must be turned in during the class they are due to receive credit.

Essays:

Each student will be required to write four short essays (each ca. 3-4 pages typed, double-spaced) on a topic assigned by the instructor. Essay assignments will be based on material covered in the course and will not require additional reading or research (though students are always welcome to delve more deeply into topics in which they are especially interested). Completed essays should be stapled in the upper left-hand corner and should include a cover page with the student's name, date of completion, course number, title of paper, and word count. Essays will be graded on content and form (see the handout entitled "Grading Criteria for Essays," which is available on Scholar).

Late Assignments:

Late assignments can only be accepted with an official, documented excuse.

Honor Code:

Students are expected to follow the Virginia Tech Honor Code for all assignments. I don't mind if you consult with your classmates (indeed I encourage this for it's how scholars typically work), but anything you turn in should ultimately represent your own thoughts and words. Otherwise we would all be forced to live in a world of deceit and distrust that most of us would prefer not to inhabit.

The honor code will be strictly enforced in this course. Any infractions will be reported to the Honor System Review Board and could lead to a failing grade in the course, community service, probation, and even expulsion from the university. If you are not familiar with the Honor System at Virginia Tech, I would urge you to take a look at the following homepage immediately:

http://www.honorsystem.vt.edu/

A Personal Note:

I am here to help you learn. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, concerns, special needs, or difficulties related to this course (or even if you just want to talk about the issues it raises). I know that approaching a professor can be intimidating, but I want to assure you that I enjoy meeting with students, and I do everything possible to make myself accessible throughout the semester.

Draft Schedule:

Subject to revision as needed. Changes will be announced in class and posted on Scholar. Reading assignments are to be completed by the time of class on the day they are listed below, and the readings in bold are posted online in Scholar. The other readings (Larson, Darwin, Paul, Watson, and Leopold) are from the required books listed on the first page of this syllabus.

	Topic	Reading
T, 8/25	Introduction
Th, 8/27	The Problem of Extinction	Barrow, 15-46 Linnaeus, 39-41, 113-129
T, 9/1	Evolution before Darwin	Larson, xv-xvi, 5-51 + TBA
Th, 9/3	The Origin of The Origin	Larson, 55-75 Browne, 9-34
T, 9/8	The Origin of The Origin	Larson, 79-101 Darwin, 1-28
Th, 9/10	No class	Darwin, 29-82
T, 9/15	Darwin's Origin	Darwin, 288-307
Th, 9/17	Darwin's Origin	Darwin, TBA
T, 9/22	Responding to Darwin Paper 1 Due	Larson, 103-150
Th, 9/24	Responding to Darwin	Larson, 177-197 Carnegie, TBA
T, 9/29	The Birth of Modern Genetics	Larson, 153-174 Endersby, 170-208
Th, 10/1	The Modern Synthesis	Larson, 221-243, 267-286 + TBA
T, 10/6	Eugenics	Paul, 1-49
Th, 10/8	Eugenics	Paul, 50-96 Gould, 307-313
T, 10/13	Eugenics	Paul, 97-135
Th, 10/15	Evolution on Trial	Larson, 201-218 + TBA
T, 10/20	Evolution on Trial	Larson, 247-263
Th, 10/22	The Origins of Molecular Biology Paper 2 Due	TBA + Watson, vii-xvii, 3-47
T, 10/27	Race for the Double Helix	Watson, 48-109
Th, 10/29	Race for the Double Helix	Watson, 110-179 Elkin, 42-48
T, 11/3	Race for the Double Helix	Watson, 180-186
Th 11/5	The Human Genome Project	TBA
T, 11/10	The Human Genome Project	TBA
Th, 11/12	Ecology Paper 3 Due	Strong, 134-151 Leopold pp. vii-ix, 41-50, 67-72, 104-112, 129-133, 149-154
T, 11/17	Ecology and Leopold's Land Ethic	Leopold, 188-226
Th, 11/19	TBA	TBA
T, 11/24	Thanksgiving Break
Th, 11/26	Thanksgiving Break
T, 12/1	Ecology and Environmentalism	De Steiguer, 29-41 Carson, 1-13, 103-127, 263-275, 278-97
Th, 12/3	Ecology and Environmentalism Paper 4 Due
T, 12/8	Conservation Biology	TBA
F, 12/11, 7:45-9:45 a.m.	Final Exam