Instructor: Richard Tucker, Department of Cell Biology & Human Anatomy, School of Medicine
Description: The course explores the events leading up to the presentation of the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to James Watson, Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins for the discovery of the structure of DNA. In particular, the personalities and scientific contributions described in Watson's autobiography The Double Helix and two biographies of Rosalind Franklin, a key player in the discovery who didn't win the prize, are compared and contrasted. A major goal of the course is to encourage critical analysis of the Nobel Prize itself, especially how society views the prize and what it takes to be a laureate. Who wins the Nobel Prize and why? Who selects the prize winners? Part of this goal involves the development of critical reading, writing and presentation skills. Another goal is to examine how different authors can approach the same subject: how does the point of view of the author influence their story? Are there other examples of this in the writings the students normally encounter?
Format: Students will meet once each week for a 2.5-hour session. Students present the results of their "scavenger hunts" or short writing/presentation assignments, which in turn are integrated into a general discussion of that week's reading. In addition to The Double Helix, students will read and discuss Rosalind Franklin & DNA, by Anne Sayre, and The Dark Lady of DNA, by Brenda Maddox. Students will turn in a critical essay in lieu of a final exam.In addition, students are assigned weekly projects ("scavenger hunts") and short creative writing assignment and small group presentations intended to introduce them to using the Internet and campus libraries as learning resources as well as to improve their ability to work together as a team. Grading: Scavenger hunts (15%); Group presentations and short essay (2 pages)(15%); Class participation (20%); and Final Essay (4-6 pages)(50%).
About the Instructor: Dr. Tucker is a Professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy at the School of Medicine. He earned his Ph.D. in Zoology from UC Davis in 1986. After postdoctoral studies in Europe and a junior faculty position on the East Coast, he joined the UC Davis faculty in 1994. His research interests center around understanding the molecules that direct the development of the nervous system. Dr. Tucker is the director of the School of Medicine’s Gross Anatomy course and also enjoys giving anatomy lectures to undergraduates in CHA 101. His long-standing interests in scientific fraud and misconduct led to the development of this Freshman Seminar, which has been offered since 1998.