Biology Commons^™

"Absolutely Part Of What We Should Be Doing": Kevin Curry, Water Filters And The International Mission Of The Modern University, Andrew C. Holman

Bridgewater Review

No abstract provided.

Community-Based Inquiry Improves Critical Thinking In General Education Biology, Ian J. Quitadamo, Celia L. Faiola, James E. Johnson, Martha J. Kurtz

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of the Sciences

National stakeholders are becoming increasingly concerned about the inability of college graduates to think critically. Research shows that, while both faculty and students deem critical thinking essential, only a small fraction of graduates can demonstrate the thinking skills necessary for academic and professional success. Many faculty are considering nontraditional teaching methods that incorporate undergraduate research because they more closely align with the process of doing investigative science. This study compared a research-focused teaching method called community-based inquiry (CBI) with traditional lecture/laboratory in general education biology to discover which method would elicit greater gains in critical thinking. Results showed significant critical-thinking …

Undergraduate Research: A Bridge To Graduate Education In Agricultural Biotechnology For Hispanics, Eliezer S. Louzada, Hilda Sonia De Rio, Allison J. Abell, Gerson Peltz, Michael W. Persans

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Hispanics lag behind all other U.S. ethnic groups in education, and are especially poorly represented in science careers. Undergraduate research is an efficient method to attract undergraduate students to science, and many universities are taking advantage of this; however, much still needs to be done to fully explore its potential. In 2000, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, in collaboration with the University of Texas at Brownsville and the University of Texas Pan-American, initiated a undergraduate research internship program in citrus biotechnology to channel Hispanic undergraduate students into graduate education. To date, 51 internships have been provided, and 20 students have been channeled …

Effect Of Rho Kinase Inhibition On Alpha-Actin Remodeling In The Contracting A7r5 Smooth Muscle Cell, Suzette Pike

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Science and Technology at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science by Suzette Pike on July 11, 2008,

The Effect Of Ginseng On Biofilm Formation By Wild Type And Mutant Strains Of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Premi Shekar

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Science and Technology at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science by Premi Shekar on June 25, 2008.

Writing Research Proposal: Literature Review And Database Search, Mamoudou H. Dicko Prof.

Pr. Mamoudou H. DICKO, PhD

What Do Students Have To Say About Ecology And Evolution? Using Podcasting To Apply Integrative Biology Themes Across The Tree Of Life, Amy M. Treonis, Malcolm Hill, Theresa Dolson, Sue Mcginnis, Elizabeth Miles

Biology Faculty Publications

We describe a versatile podcasting assignment that requires students to (i) review primary and secondary literature relating to an assigned organism with the goal of identifying the main features of its ecology and evolution, (ii) prepare an enhanced podcast about their organism, and (iii) critique peer podcasts. The goal of this assignment is for each student to gain a fuller appreciation for and understanding of biological diversity. This assignment will enhance students' research, technology, and communication skills while reinforcing the main themes of integrative biology.

"Barack Obama’S Dual Triple Heritage,", Amadu Jacky Kaba

Amadu Jacky Kaba

Contributing to Ali A. Mazrui’s (1986) Africa’s triple heritage concept, this paper argues that United States Senator Barack Obama from Illinois has a dual triple heritage: (1) race or ethnicity (ethnic origin) and (2) religion. The paper argues that the new positive friendship or partnership between the people of Africa and the people of the United States in the first decade of the 21st century is a contributing factor to the Barack Obama phenomenon. Finally, the paper claims that Barack Obama has the potential to help in uniting: (1) the United States; (2) Africa and the United States; (3) a …

"Religion, Immigration And Assimilation: The Hispanic/Latino Population In The United States And The North African/Muslim Population In Europe,", Amadu Jacky Kaba

Amadu Jacky Kaba

This paper argues that there are geographic and human (racial makeup) similarities in the emigration of Hispanics/Latinos to the U.S. and that of North Africans/Muslims to Europe. The paper argues, however, that compared to their counterparts in Europe, the Hispanic/Latino population in the U.S. tends to be more assimilated, with shared religious history (Christianity) being a big part of the reason for such assimilation. To put differently, unlike North African/Muslim immigrants in Europe, Latin American immigrants are more integrated in the U.S. because most of them share with the majority of the population similar beliefs in conservative traditions, Christianity and …

"Culture, Economic Progress And Immigration: The Hispanic/Latino Population In The U.S. And The North African/Muslim Population In European Countries,", Amadu Jacky Kaba

Amadu Jacky Kaba

This paper explores the rising populations of Hispanics/Latinos in the United States and of North Africans/Muslims in European countries. It examines the “push” and “pull” factors contributing to the increase in emigration of Hispanics to the U.S. and North Africans/Muslims to Europe. Examining social and economic data for both immigrant groups, the paper argues that due largely to cultural similarities, the Hispanic population in the U.S. tends to be more easily integrated into the mainstream population than the North African/Muslim population in Europe.

"Sex Ratio At Birth And Racial Differences: Why Do Black Women Give Birth To More Females Than Non-Black Women?,", Amadu Jacky Kaba

Amadu Jacky Kaba

The two important questions that this paper will attempt to answer are: (1) why is it that regardless of race/ethnicity or geographic location, the sex ratio data at birth show more males than females?; and (2) Why is it that regardless of geographic location compared to other racial/ethnic groups, Black women or Women of sub-Saharan Black African descent tend to give birth to more females? Or to put this question the other way around, compared to Black women, why do non-Black women give birth to more males? (

Measuring Knowledge Of Natural Selection: A Comparison Of The C.I.N.S., An Open-Response Instrument, And An Oral Interview, Ross Nehm, Irvin Sam Schonfeld

Publications and Research

Growing recognition of the central importance of fostering an in-depth understanding of natural selection has, surprisingly, failed to stimulate work on the development and rigorous evaluation of instruments that measure knowledge of it. We used three different methodological tools, the Conceptual Inventory of Natural Selection (CINS), a modified version of Bishop and Anderson's (Bishop and Anderson [1990] Journal of Research in Science Teaching 27: 415-427) open-response test that we call the Open Response Instrument (ORI), and an oral interview derived from both instruments, to measure biology majors' understanding of and alternative conceptions about natural selection. We explored how these instruments …

Undergraduate Research: Communicating Ecological Field Studies To Local School Children Through Outreach And Curriculum, Lee Kats, Shannon Rollert, Trevor Thurling, Richard Johnson, Daniel Cho, Sean Landis, Randall Van Dragt, Gloria Van Dragt

Lee Kats

The writers describe a program to communicate undergraduate research results to local K–12 students in California. They describe the development of a curriculum and an outreach effort to convey findings of ecological field work undertaken by Pepperdine University students. They then describe program implementation and program benefits.