Prompt: Imagine yourself as the head of a funding agency (like the National Institute of Health) in which your job is to look at proposals for research projects and decide what projects to award funding to. Based on your readings this term, discuss a research project (or projects) that you would be most excited about …
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Writing Exercise #14
Prompt: Part 1: Set a timer for 3 minutes, and make a list of as many human non-infectious diseases that you can think of that are influenced by microorganisms. Part 2: Refer back to your Writing Exercise #1 that you completed the first week of class. Reflect and discuss how your responses have changed from week 1 …
Writing Exercise #13
Prompt: In W. P. Hanage’s article, he discusses the importance of five key questions when interpreting scientific literature: Can experiments detect differences that matter? Does the study show causation or correlation? What is the mechanism? How much do experiments reflect reality? Could anything else explain the results? Explain the significance that each of these questions …
Writing Exercise #12
Prompt: Describe how microbial communities in the body could influence brain and mental health states. Then, describe how brain and mental health states could influence microbial communities in the body. In what ways might these promote health and/or disease? Response: Microbial communities in the body could influence brain and mental health states by way of …
Writing Exercise #11
Prompt: Reflect on the peer-review process with you as the reviewer. How did it feel to read and critique someone else’s writing? What did you learn that you can apply to your own writing as you revise your final essay? Response: It felt weird critiquing someone else’s writing, just because I don’t necessarily think I …
Writing Exercise #10
Prompt: Describe the process of peer review to someone who does not frequently read scientific articles. In your response, consider the pros and cons of peer review and how that might impact the credibility of the results that come from that scientific article. Response: Peer review is the process of having a colleague, who typically …
Writing Exercise #9
Prompt: List and describe as many changes in human behaviors as you can think of that contribute to decreased exposure to microbes. Response: Going to the hospital Going to the dentist Going to the above and receiving antibiotics Having a major surgery Having a more bland diet, i.e. consuming more processed junk foods Showering a …
Writing Exercise #8
Step 1: Some of the things that I’ve learned this term that are most interesting would probably be the areas concerning gut health, probably because this is mostly what we’ve focused on. Specifically, I really liked how cancer could potentially be caused by the microbes in our stomach. I also enjoyed the studies about mice …
Writing Exercise #7
Prompt: List and describe potential factors that the mother or the infant could be exposed to that could influence the colonization of the microbial community in the newborn infant (in positive or negative ways). Response: Potential factors that the mother or infant could be exposed to that could influence the colonization of the microbial community …
Writing Exercise #6
Prompt: Describe your personal philosophy about how and when you have taken, or would take, antibiotics. What experiences or prior knowledge do you have that shaped that personal philosophy? Response: I have taken antibiotics before, and I personally do not think that they are harmful if taken in appropriate dosages. I took them orally about …