<p>Essay questions related to Nature vs. Nurture - Select one of these.</p><p>Option #1</p><p>The Human Genome Project raises several social and ethical issues for humans. This webpage summarizes them. http://www.ornl.gov/hgmis/elsi/elsi.html</p><p>Read through the list and choose two of the issues. For each one briefly define it and compose an answer to the questions posed on the webpage for that issue. Then answer the following questions: 1. Do you think these issues should have been serious enough for us to stop the research on the project? Why or why not? 2. How do you think we should manage the information that is available as a result of the Human Genome Project? </p><p>Option #2</p><p>Striking similarities have sometimes been found between twins who are reunited after years of separation. A recent talk show, for example, reunited a pair of identical twin brothers who had been separated at birth and raised by adoptive parents in different parts of the same state. Neither knew of the other's existence until a mutual acquaintance brought them together. Upon meeting for the first time each saw his own reflection. They had grown the same mustache and sideburns, and each wore the same glasses. As the brothers talked, they discovered they had more than looks in common. One went to college and graduated with a degree in forestry. The other planned to go to college to study the same subject but opted to work for the city trimming trees. Both worked for a time in supermarkets. Both men are bachelors attracted to similar women--"tall, slender, long hair." In addition to being volunteer firemen, they both share favorite pastimes of hunting, fishing, going to the beach, watching old John Wayne movies and pro wrestling, and eating Chinese food. Both were raised in the Jewish faith but neither is particularly religious. In becoming acquainted one observed, "We kept making the same remarks at the same time and using the same gestures. It was spooky. . . . He is he and I am I, and we are one." </p><p>Despite their separation (of some 40 years), the twins seemed to share remarkable similarities in their personalities and lifestyles. Does this prove that nature plays a greater role in determining these characteristics than does environment? Why or why not?</p><p>Option #3</p><p>This exercise will give you a chance to contemplate the decisions that may be available to you as we learn more about the genetics of disease. This website presents a breast cancer scenario and then asks you to make some choices. It then provides you feedback about the choices you made. http://www.dnafiles.org/interact/brca/index.html Complete the exercise and then answer the following questions. 1. Did you have any difficulty making any of the choices? Why or why not? 2. If you had a history of breast cancer in your family (men are not immune), would you want to have genetic testing done to determine your risk? Why or why not? 3. What would you advise your children to do if you had a family history of breast cancer? 4. Would the knowledge that you are carrying the gene(s) for a potentially fatal disorder influence your decision to have children? Why or why not? </p><p>Given the advances in the genetics of diseases, you may well be faced with making choices such as these in the near future. The test for one of the breast cancer genes is available now.</p><p>Essay Question Related to Perception</p><p>As an investigator of unusual claims, James Randi is accustomed to being confronted with incredible examples of medieval thinking in this twenty-first century. A good example is the recent captivation of the world by a black-and-white film on TV, which purported to show the dissection of an alien from outer space. The TV network that broadcast this film reportedly paid $100,000 for this "cinematic miracle," which was hailed by UFO fans as conclusive proof of the existence of extraterrestrial beings. "The film was so inherently flawed," scoffs Randi, "that even I was amazed at the fact that anyone could accept it. This film, which should have changed the course of history, is now relegated to the vast gallery of embarrassing mistakes." </p><p>In this exercise you will visit several Web sites that are devoted to the scientific, and not-so-scientific, study of psychic phenomena. Because you will be exposed to both sides of the issue, your exploration will encourage you to think critically about your own beliefs regarding paranormal phenomena.</p><p>To guide your research, here's the Web site address for the James Randi Educational Foundation. Begin your exploration here, and use the site's hyperlinks to visit other relevant Web pages. http://www.randi.org/</p><p>1. What is the "$1,000,000 paranormal challenge?" Has anyone taken Randi up on his offer? Why is Randi confident that his money is safe?</p><p>2. Why do so many people believe in the existence of psychic phenomena? Why is this ready acceptance of "nonsense as mere harmless aberrations" potentially dangerous?</p><p>3. Who is Uri Geller? What are some of the things he claims to be able to do?</p><p>4. How can you fall off a ladder and get rich?</p><p>5. Briefly describe at least one major research project involving parapsychological phenomena. What evidence is offered by this project? Is it convincing? Explain your reasoning. Essay Question Related to Sensation</p><p>Briefly summarize each sensation by writing one paragraph for each. (Vision, Hearing, Touch, Taste, Smell and Body movement) Use as much vocabulary as you can in a meaningful way. In other words don’t just use the word in a sentence without it being meaningful. This is more a test of how well you can summarize and select the most important elements of the unit. Do not write too much as it will indicate that you do not know what is and what is not important. </p><p>Poor - “The eye is made up of the pupil, cornea, retina, iris and lens.” Better – “Light enters the cornea passing through the iris which controls the amount of light entering the eye. </p><p>Essay Question Related to Research and Statistics – Pick one.</p>