2.2 Using A. tumefaciens to genetically modify plant cells
Genetic manipulation of crops is an issue of great current interest and controversy. This unit covers some of the basic science that underpins the debate and examines the hotly contested case study of the development of ‘Golden Rice’. By looking at the science 'behind the headlines' you will acquire a clearer idea of both what is possible in GM science and what may be desirable.
1 Genetic manipulation of plants and GM crops: an introduction
Genetic manipulation of crops is an issue of great current interest and controversy. This unit covers some of the basic science that underpins the debate and examines the hotly contested case study of the development of ‘Golden Rice’. By looking at the science 'behind the headlines' you will acquire a clearer idea of both what is possible in GM science and what may be desirable.
Structure Dependence, the Rational Learner, and Putnam’s Sane Person
Young children say many surprising and funny things – funny, often, because how they say it is not quite right in an endearing way. “My friend goed to the playground,” and “I ated two desserts” both demonstrate errors that we readily understand, sympathize with, and are confident will go away with further listening
enChanting Musical Artifacts in Unlikely Places: Rare Resources in MIT’s Lewis Music Library
There are times when it’s necessary to judge a book by its cover, or a single page, because that’s all that remains. Michael Scott Cuthbert and Nancy Schrock reveal some treasures from MIT’s early music collection which, while often incomplete or damaged, sing volumes about their origins and use.
Contemplative Dimensions of Human Experience
In a mind-stretching talk covering the history of the planet, development of higher-order consciousness, and East-West religious practices, Trappist monk Thomas Keating claims that humanity is poised to take its next evolutionary step, to the “furthest levels of human understanding.”
While
The Gutenberg Parenthesis: Oral Tradition and Digital Technologies
Should we view the last 500 years or so of Western culture as a strange interlude, defined by printed page and other artifacts that once dominated the landscape but are now fading in relevance? In this forum, Thomas Pettitt makes the deliberately provocative case for a Gutenberg “Parenthesis” -- a period marked b
Living with Catastrophic Terrorism: Can Science and Technology Make the U.S. Safer?
After the terrorists attack of September 11, three Academies-the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine-sponsored a major study of the role that science and technology might play in countering the threat of catastrophic terrorism in the United States. This study involved a committee of 24 expe
The Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies: Taking Nanotechnology from the Laboratory to the Soldier
A U.S. Army soldier carries more than 100 pounds of gear into battle. What can be done to lighten the load, while still providing maximum protection? Edwin Thomas, Director of MIT’s new Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, describes an alternative to the past practice of “dressing up a soldier like a Christmas tree”. He descri
Counting the Dead in Iraq
It’s no wonder there was an outcry when Gilbert Burnham’s group released its report on mortality in Iraq. The numbers of civilian deaths so overwhelmed body counts calculated by other groups that many were stunned or disbelieving, and Burnham earned the enmity of some U.S. and Iraqi government officials.
Bur
Opening Remarks/How the Brain Invents the Mind
In trying financial times, Susan Hockfield remains optimistic and committed to pursuing MIT’s massive, multi-year initiatives in energy and life sciences. She prefaces her “whirlwind” tour of MIT for an alumni audience by referencing the campus-wide relief at the change in presidential administrations, which promises
Portuguese studies review
The PSR is a peer reviewed journal devoted to promoting interdisciplinary scholarly study of the countries, regions, and communities that share, build on, or are transforming a Portuguese or Brazilian legacy. The PSR promotes a critical understanding of the historical and current evolution of political, economic, social and cultural networks incorporating Portugal, Brazil, and other lusophone countries. The journal, launched in 1991 by Trent University (Ontario, Canada) is published biannually,
Supporting community archaeology in the UK
The "Supporting Community Archaeology in the UK" website produced by for The Council for British Archaeology (CBA) publishes an updated report (in PDF format) by Dr Suzie Thomas entitled "Community Archaeology in the UK: Recent Findings". The report concludes that in 2010 up to 215,000 individuals may be available to be involved in such projects, a resource to be assessed against the declining role of universities in excavations due to funding cuts.Professional archaeologists are usually in char
China gateway
China Gateway is a collection of annotated gateways of relevance to undergraduate students and their teachers. Although primarily meant as a study aid for the students of Boston College, China Gateway aims to offer a concise introduction to the manner in which developments in the digital world have aided the study of Chinese culture and society. From the Culture and History section of the main page, users will find links to gateways (themed in sections), covering: geography and maps; language an
Greengaged
Greengaged is a not for profit organisation which aims to help the design industry respond constructively to environmental change. Founded in 2008 by Sophie Thomas from thomas.matthews, Sarah Johnson from Re-design, and Anne Chick from The Sustainable Design Research Centre at Kingston University, Greengaged offers thought leadership, and provides opportunities for knowledge sharing, both within the design industry and externally. A wide range of categories of design are covered, including gra
Miranda
Miranda is an open access full-text ejournal, published from the University of Toulouse, France. Themed peer-reviewed issues explore... "social and cultural practices of the English-speaking world". At May 2010 there is one issue available, a substantial issue on Charles Darwin and his legacy / Thomas Hardy and Science beyond Darwin. Articles are in either French or English, and are in HTML format. Example English articles in the first issue include: 'Darwin in Wonderland: evolution, involuti
Joseph Haydn-Institut
Available in German only, this is the website of the Joseph Haydn-Institut, which was founded in Cologne, Germany in 1955. The main purpose of the institute was to compile and publish the complete works of Austrian composer Joseph Haydn (1732-1809). It also commissions a comprehensive bibliography on Haydn, which is published by G. Henle Verlag in Munich. The institute's library contains a source card index, and original scores and manuscripts. The website provides information about the institut
Orient : report of the society for Near Eastern studies in Japan
This Web page gives access to the full-text of 'Orient: Report of the Society for Near Eastern Studies in Japan' (1960-2004), and despite the word 'report' in the title this is actually a substantial academic journal. Tables of contents, abstracts, and PDF files of articles are all freely available online. The journal was published in English, with occasional articles in German and French, and was devoted to reports and scholarly articles on archaeological and historical topics, with forays into
Acknowledgements
The new discipline of astrobiology – that is, the science of searching for extraterrestrial life – is not only rapdly growing, but has also captured the public imagination. This unit examines the emergence of icy satellites of distant planets as potential sites of extraterrestrial life. Focussing on the case study of Jupiter's moon Europa, the unit looks at the potential for life there, and speculates on the ethics of searching for life elsewhere in the solar system.
1.3 Unravelling the natures of the large satellites
The new discipline of astrobiology – that is, the science of searching for extraterrestrial life – is not only rapdly growing, but has also captured the public imagination. This unit examines the emergence of icy satellites of distant planets as potential sites of extraterrestrial life. Focussing on the case study of Jupiter's moon Europa, the unit looks at the potential for life there, and speculates on the ethics of searching for life elsewhere in the solar system.
Center for Public Awareness in Bioethics (CPAB)
The Center for Public Awareness in Bioethics was launched in March 2008 and aims to increase public awareness, debate and involvement in bioethical issues, and provide a platform for study and research in bioethics. The site contains information on the objectives, policies and activities of the Center, and introductory information on the discipline of bioethics, aimed at a lay audience. There are also documents and links to external websites under the Resources section, though like the Journal,
