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.
Cancer, Diabetes, immunocompromized infections, Cardiovascular disease, Asthma, Alzheimer’s disease, Arthritis, Obesity
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 to week 10, and what the most important topics you will take away with you once you have completed the course.
The diseases I have listed in Writing Exercise #1 were much more specific than the ones I chose for this week. This is due to my understanding of what a non-infectious disease expanding over this course. At first, I had thought that a non-infectious disease had to affect the patient immediately from the microorganisms. Now I understand that microorganisms have a long term effect that could help or damage the body long term. The most important topic I will take away from this course is the skill of analyzing different types of scientific articles and applying them to the broader topic that is discussed. Taking this class during the pandemic really helped me understand in a broader way the effect microbes can have on us as individuals and as a community.
