| Catalog description: The technical manipulation of living matter from humans, animals and plants is both a scientific and a social undertaking. This course is designed for humanities and science students who want to know more about how biotechnology came into existence, and the questions, controversies and changes that come with the ability to engineer living things. A series of case studies of contemporary events in cloning, patenting, genetically modified organisms, and stem cell research will be set in the context of the 20th century history of biotechnology. |
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More Detail: The basic motivation behind this course is to consider biotechnology as a social and cultural phenomenon, which is suitable to analysis via the techniques of the humanities and social sciences. We will use the techniques of history, literary analysis, and anthropology to study the development and presence of biotechnology in (mostly American) culture – more specifically, its role in making and shaping agriculture and food, medicine and health, biology and wealth, and human reproduction. We will be considering current events in biotechnology against the background of a historical exploration of the development of biotechnology over the twentieth century, including a consideration of its philosophies, techniques, and surrounding institutional and legal contexts. Students should be forewarned that this is not a science class, even though it has the word "biotechnology" in the title. The reading is conceptually challenging and absolutely essential, and the assignments stress the ability to read and write critically. |