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Biotechnology Program of Study (POS)
A Program of Study in Biology and Chemistry
Coordinator: Dr. Pattle Pun, Biology Department
The advent of genetic engineering in the seventies has ushered
in the era of biotechnology. Its far-reaching effects in
all areas of fundamental biological research, as well as
in agricultural, medical, environmental, and industrial applications,
are being unraveled. Tremendous advances in biotechnology
in the last few decades include many new jobs in agricultural
and industrial biotechnologies and hundreds of millions of
people treated with tools developed by biotechnology. The
completion of the Human Genome Project in the early 21st
century, using the biotechnology tools, is ushering in new
paradigms in genomic medicine.
In a National Science Foundation/Department
Of Energy sponsored report (2002), “Converging Technologies
for Improving Human Performance, NANOTECHNOLOGY, BIOTECHNOLOGY,
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND COGNITIVE SCIENCE,” biotechnology
is one of the four converging technologies that has much
to contribute to enhancing human abilities, to solving the
pressing problems faced by our society in the twenty-first
century, and to expanding human knowledge about our species
and the world we inhabit. Advances in biotechnology have
important implications for economic benefits, including cheaper
and faster drug development, overcoming bottlenecks in biotechnology
applications, cheaper and better materials and machines that
perform old and new tasks, and environmental benefits.
A
key challenge will be to maintain reversibility in all changes
that are being made to living organisms in order to prevent
unwanted environmental catastrophes, such as predominance
of new organisms with enhanced capabilities in the environment.
These new technologies require drastic changes in education.
Human learning, memory, and creativity — which are
likely to increase as a result of the revolutions in biology — have
to be steered towards attaining literacy in health and biology
for all citizens. Close collaboration between academic and
industrial partners will allow colleges and universities
to focus on fundamental advances, keeping in mind the implications
and potential applications that will be evaluated and realized
by industry. The demand for individuals with basic training
in the relevant areas in biology and chemistry is rapidly
increasing.
Pressing moral issues, such as stem
cell research, cloning, gene therapies or enhancement, the
ownership of human genetic information, and the release of
genetically engineered organisms into the environment, are
awaiting thoughtful Christian inputs. To face these challenges,
Wheaton College provides an opportunity for students to study
biotechnology within the interdisciplinary major, offering
a unique program of study.
Requirements
for the Biotechnology POS are 12 upper division hours
from Biology including Biology 356, Genetics; Biology 374,
Bioinformatics and 12 hours
of Chemistry including Chemistry 341 and 342, Organic Chemistry;
and Chemistry 461, Biochemistry. Recommended 8 hours of electives
are Biology 362, Cell and Developmental Biology and Biology/Philosophy 317,
Biomedical Ethics (strongly recommended as the integrative
or bridge course). Independent research experience (Biology
or Chemistry 495) or summer laboratory internship will be
helpful. A programming course in computer sciences can be
included. An integrated project on biotechnology is recommended
for the required senior capstone seminar (IDS 494).
Some Sample IDS Guiding Directives for the Biotechnology POS:
Questions: What are the promises and perils of biotechnology?
How do Christians respond to human cloning and stem cells
research? Should there be limits in biotechnology?
Problems: Bioterrorism; Genetic discrimination; Taking,
Making and Faking Lives; Genetically Modified Organisms and
World hunger and Environmentalism
Themes: Humans as creatures and co-creator with God; Genetic
and technological contribution to personhood; Christian stewardship
and Transhumanism.
Visit the web
page for Dr. Pattle Pun, Advisor.
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