Class. Tues/Thurs 2:30-4, Wilson 214. Instructors. Info on us and our office hours here. Coverage and Perspective. Late in the 20th century, scientists began to directly manipulate life forms at the genetic level. This development may be on par with the Industrial Revolution in terms of the breadth and complexity of its implications and effects. This course examines a range of these issues. But genetic modification (mainly of crops -- animals are a different kettle of fish that we only discuss briefly) is just our starting point; it isn't a course just on genetic modification or agriculture, any more than a course on the Industrial Revolution would just be about factory design. Topics will include biocolonialism; industry-academy relationships; ethics in academic research; causes of suicides by farmers; patenting of life forms; the WTO and politics of intellectual property control; new developments in biology; the manipulation of public debates; new differences between countries such as US and England; the implications of overpopulation and the causes of hunger; the politics of regulating the environment; the contested criteria of "quality" in food and agriculture; and the alternatives to industrialized agriculture. Our intent is not to defend or attack biotechnology, but rather to understand it and use it as a lens to see how the world works. We will consider arguments on both sides, and move well beyond the polarized debate to reach a more informed perspective. All students, even those with strong convictions on these topics, will be pushed to be open minded and to give serious consideration to opposing perspectives -- to look for merit in the strongest arguments, rather than looking for flaws in the weakest arguments. We are going to discuss most of the hot-button controversies and talking points in the world of biotech but not for the usual reasons. Biotech supporters like to call their opponents Luddites, to equate genetic modification with crop domestication, and to claim that Africans starved because they rejected American grain aid. Opponents charge the biotech industry with stealing control from farmers with Terminator seeds, of contaminating farmer crop varieties, and leading Indian farmers to suicide. These charges are usually intended to incite passions but it can be highly instructive to take them as serious questions. What were the Luddites really doing, and how are they like or unlike anti-biotech activists? How is genetic modification like or unlike past processes of altering the ploants we live on? Do transgenes really flow into wild plant communities or farmers' fields, and what actual effects could this have, anyway? How could a seed technology cause suicide? This course is based in the anthropology department but it ignores disciplinary boundaries, delving into such fields as molecular biology, sociology of science, agronomy, intellectual property law, archaeology, ecology, economics, and media studies. With such a broad mandate it is essential to hear from a range of experts, and we will have an interesting set of guest speakers, including important contributions from Washington University's biology department. Course Format. The course is experimental and it is different every year. It will feature field trips, a web-based discussion forum, and a group of outside experts. Use of the web is integral to the course. Some lecture notes will be posted, linked to the lecture title in the syllabus, usually following each class. These notes are not meant to substitute for your own lecture notes, but rather as study aids. Discussion and questions are encouraged during lectures and on the messages page. Readings. Required books are Charles' Lords of the Harvest and Kloppenburg's First the Seed. Other readings will be available online. Belinda Martineau's wonderful book First Fruit is out of print and the second edition is not out yet. We are going to read more of the book than what is considered "fair use;" she has provided the book in electronic form for a $4 copyright fee (each). Assignments will be on the on the syllabus webpage, which will be updated throughout the course. The messages page is required reading; it is used for discussion and to communicate about class assignments, schedule changes, etc., and some links to explicitly optional material. Please check it regularly. . Grading. Grades are based on 6 tests (weighting given in parens):
Quizzes will usually have 2-5 questions with answers ranging from 10-100 words, and there may be a few short-answer questions. Midterms always have a wide range of question types -- long and short essays, T/F, identifications, you name it. You are responsible for readings, lectures and message page discussions. Any test may include readings for the day of the test. Tests will often have a bonus question based on recent GM-related news; bonus points are pretty useless but they are occasionally used to raise grades of students near cutoffs. Students must take all exams at the scheduled time except in cases of a death in the family, debilitating illness, or required participation in another school event (e.g. varsity athletic teams). Requests to be excused from exams to accommodate flight schedules will be cheerfully granted, on the one condition that hell has frozen over. Any special arrangements regarding tests or grades absolutely must have an email "paper trail" -- for instance, if you are excused from a test because of athletics or sickness, even if we agree on this verbally, it must be established in emails. Quizzes and exams are graded by the graduate TA with input from the professor. If you have questions about scoring, getting tests back, etc., please see the TA first. Course grades are assigned on a modified curve, typically with around 75-80% of the class in the A-B range (it's grade inflation but whaddya gonna do). No extra-credit assignments will be accepted. Class contributions rarely affects grades although it may in theory be taken into account for students near grade cutoffs. Cornerstone exams. If you are entitled to test accommodations you may take any tests in Cornerstone. We will provide tests well in advance of their scheduled time so that if you get extra time you will have the option of starting them early and not miss any class. However remember that we cannot provide extra time or any other accommodations in the normal classroom. Expectations. The professor and TA's put a lot of time and special effort into this course. We will do everything we can to make it engaging, relevant, rigorous, and sometimes even entertaining. We will grade tests conscientiously and relatively quickly. We will make ourselves available during office hours, and/or see you by appointment. We will try to provide review questions and review sessions. We also have some requests of you. Out of respect for the teaching staff and other students, you will be expected to:
Note that we do not take attendance, and so class attendance is not mandatory. If you are in the mood to do email, facebook, etc., you are free to skip class and do so in many locations around campus. This class just isn't one of them. The 400 level course. 4322 is open to grad students or undergrads with my permission. It is the same course except that the student will prepare a 15-20 p. research paper on an approved topic. Weightings will be:
Admission to 4322 requires graduate standing, although undergraduates with demonstrated experience in independent research and also knowledge of the subject projects may be admitted. Interested undergraduates should email me and make a case for your ability to take on the independent research project, including a synopsis of the topic you want to tackle. |
||||
