Coronavirus 19 vaccines. Biological & Biomedical Sciences. Term Paper

Principles of Biology I with Rebecca Delker
Final Project
Description:
Your task is to write a report on a current topic in Biology of your choice. My aim here is to both encourage you to read about current biological research, but also for you to practice applying your knowledge of biological systems that we’ve gained in this class to better understand research in the news. I think you’ll find that you’ll be able to make tons of connections between the topics we’ve discussed and ongoing research in biology labs around the world. 
For this project, you are going to be the science communicator – the expert tasked with explaining a complicated issue to people who may not know as much biology as you. This means that you’ll want to think about two things:
1. The significance of the topic – why should your readers know about this topic? Is there significance for us, society, the environment, ethics, etc?
2. The biological details of the topic – what do your readers need to know about the topic in order to understand the issue and think about it for themselves?
You must make connections between the topic and what we have learned in class. Again, think about what we have learned that made it easier for you to understand the topic and provide this information for your readers so they can understand too. If you feel like graphics will help your reader understand the issue better, please include them. These graphics cannot replace the necessary words to fill the 4-page minimum (see below).Details:You get to choose your topic, but must run it by me for approval (by November 12 through Moodle, but you can tell me ahead of time). The report should be a 4-page minimum, typed, double-spaced document. This page-limit does not include citations. Citations should follow the report. You need to cite at least 4 resources. Acceptable resources include scientific journals, magazines, newspapers, lectures, documentaries, internet websites. Please limit your use of internet websites. Only 1 out of 4 resources can be an internet website.Citations don’t need to be in any format, but you should contain the following information:Title of Article, Authors, Date of publication, Source (journal/magazine), Website (if acquired from web).The report is due on our final day of class (December 10). It should be submitted by Moodle.Example Topics:COVID19-the virus, SARS-CoV2-immunity-treatments/vaccineNovel Cancer Therapeutics (or for any disease of interest)Disease PathologyGenetically Modified OrganismsGene TherapyGene EditingCRISPR Editing in HumansDe-ExtinctionIn vitro FertilizationArtificial WombsSafety of VaccinesOR YOUR CHOICE!Grading Scheme:25 Points: A (22.5+), B (20-22.5), C (17.5-20), D (<17.5)15 Points: A (13.5+), B (12-13.5), C (10.5-12), D (<10.5)10 Points: A (9+), B (8-9), C (7-8), D (<7)Points Excellent (A) Good (B) OK (C ) Needs Improvement (D)Mastery of Topic 25Student shows an incredible understanding of the topic of choice with no inaccuracies.Student shows a good understanding of topic of choice, with only a few inaccuracies.Student has greater than 3 inaccuracies in description of topic.Student has many inaccuracies in description of topic of choice.Explanation of Topic 15Student explains topic with extreme clarity so a reader with little biology background can understand. The student uses their own words.Student explains topic with enough clarity that a reader with little biology background understands 80% of issue.Student lacks clarity in explanation such that reader with little biology background cannot understand more than 50% of issue.Reader with little biology background cannot make sense of issue.Significance of Topic 15Student thoroughly explores the complexity of the implications of biological topic in our world, integrating their own ideas into the piece.Student makes some connections between biological topic and our world, relying more on the ideas of articles read.Student displays minimal effort in connecting biological topic to issues in our world.Student makes no connections between the biological topic and other issues in our world. Connections to Course 25Student seamlessly integrates several ideas from course in their explanation of topic.Student includes a description of ideas from course in their pieceStudent only touches on ideas from course in pieceStudent excludes a discussion of how ideas from course connect to topic.Organization 10Student exhibits a high degree of attention to logic and reasoning of points. A unity of ideas is clear.Student exhibits structure to their writing, with less than three points misplaced or straying from topic.Student exhibits structure to their writing, with more than than three points misplaced or straying from topic.Writing lacks logical organization. It shows some coherence but ideas lack unity.Structure/Format 10 Meets all formal requirements.Misses a single requirementMisses more than one requirment Does not conform to requirements.TOTAL POINTS 10