PLSCI 2490

Hollywood Biology: Science in Cinema

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2024-2025 Catalog. Courses of Study 2024-2025 is scheduled to publish mid-June.

Biological subjects presented in Hollywood films. Lecture topics include the scientific method, Darwinism, development, paleobiology, animal cloning, genome sequencing, forensic DNA, artificial intelligence, eugenics, and epidemiology as background to discussions of their presentation in selected films. Themes: genetics/genomics; evolution; development; epidemiology; physical anthropology; and genetic engineering. This course is suitable for non-life sciences majors.

Last 4 Terms Offered 2025SP, 2023SP, 2022SP, 2019SP

Outcomes

• Analyze and discuss a wide variety of biological concepts, methodologies, and theories--and their cultural and ethical implications--as confronted in cinema, the popular media, and modern society.
• Explain biological concepts to a lay audience via written and oral communication.
• Describe the scientific method as a human activity designed to test hypotheses about the natural world.
• Discuss the theory of biological evolution as a foundational concept to understanding all biological principles.

Distribution Category (BIO-AG, OPHLS-AG)

When Offered Spring.

Comments Does not fulfill any requirement of the biology major.

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