To: Students of The Body Mechanic, C-173/6551, Room 202
From: Roy Arezzo, Room 309, CAS-MAN
Date: 11/20/00
Re.: Course Outline, Cycle 2

Introduction:
This course is intended for any CAS student in need of science credit and will serve as a biology elective.
How does the body work? What are we, as biological organisms, responsible to know about our own bodies?
We will study human body systems, with a focus in physiology. We will explore some of the disorders
associated with human systems. Each week we will participate in histology lab activities by investigating
tissue samples representative of each system, under the microscope or related activities.

Requirements:
Students are expected to be on time each class day, M/W/F, Period 4, from 11:45 AM to 12:40 PM. You should be
prepared with typical writing necessities - paper, pen and pencils. It is recommended that you keep a science notebook.
You will be assigned weekly readings/writings. Students will be required to produce weekly lab write-ups and a final
research project (description below).

Assessment:
Each student is required to complete 15 assignments (3 points each) and one final project (15 points). Any incomplete work
will receive zero points. Work will lose 1 grade point for each class day it is turned in late. There are 23 classes this cycle
(2 points each). The total number of points you can accumulate during this cycle is 106 points. The minimal requirement to
receive credit is a total of 94 points (this is not a grade).

Science Article Assignments: 3 are due each cycle.

Agenda:
Week 1: Introduction to the process of science/review the scientific method.
Review microscope technology/human epithelial cell lab.
Friday, 11/24/00 - No Classes

Week 2: Bones, muscles and connective tissue - what is the physics of movement?
Microscope observation of bone and three types of muscle.

Week 3: Nutrition and the digestive system - why do we love those fatty foods?
Nutrient analysis/enzyme activity lab.

Week 4: Transport and the circulatory system - how does the body fight disease?
Microscope observation of blood cells. Guest Speaker,12/20/00: AIDS and the immune system

David of T.O.P.S. shows off his macrophage

Week 5: Respiration and excretion - how does the body get energy and remove wastes?
Microscope observation of lung tissue. Monday, 12/25/00 - Monday 1/1/01, Holiday Break

Week 6: Regulation, the nervous and endocrine system - how do chemicals effect our behavior?
Microscope observation of nerve cells.

Week 7: Reproductive system - how do males and females differ chemically?
Discussion group: mating strategies in birds/mammals.

Week 8: Genetics and heredity - why are we still arguing over nature versus nurture?
Karyotyping and DNA model lab.

Completed Final Research Projects are due Wednesday, 01/17/01. Cycle 2 ends Monday, 01/22/01.

FINAL PROJECT

Science students are required to do a final research project in Human Physiology. You may choose any human system or health topic even if it was not covered in class. The project should be a minimum of five typed pages, double-spaced (maximum font size = 12) and should include all 4 sections listed below. All final projects are due on or before the end of forth period, Wednesday, January 17, 2001. Late projects will NOT be accepted. All project topics must be approved in writing on or before Wednesday, December 20, 2000. Project proposals should be submitted as soon, as is possible. Students wishing to submit a draft for revision may do so by turning in projects any time between 1/3 and 1/15, 2001.

Component One:
Applied Science Investigation (1-3 pages)
Report on a relevant "case study"; including personal accounts of medical/health issues referring to the particular body system you have chosen. Include an interview(s) with patients, family members, doctors, nurses or physical therapists. For disorders and illnesses, explain the condition, symptoms, diagnosis and outcome. Conditions other than illnesses may also be investigated. Students interested in genetics can create family tree charts showing the inheritance of various traits (i.e.: blood type, color blindness, or various dominant/recessive traits). Students may do nutritional studies involving family food/vitamin choices (i.e., vegetarianism versus meat-eaters). Students/family members involved in fitness/sports programs may interview trainers and report on exercise and the cardiovascular system. Other examples may include lung capacity studies on smokers versus non-smokers. Use your imagination and the resources available to you to choose a topic wisely!

Component Two:
Report on a Human System (3-5 pages)
Write a report about the human system involved in the investigation, explaining the overall functions of the system and the cells, tissues and organs that make up the system. Use the additional questions below as a guideline to outline your report:
How is this system affected by environmental conditions? How does one maintain proper health in relation to the system? Discuss all the tissues/organs of the system - How are they unique? Which specialized cell types make up the tissues of the organs? How does the system serve the body? How do you think it compares to the similar systems in other organisms?

Component Three:
Laboratory Write-up (1-3 pages)
Include one laboratory activity on the subject. This should include a hands-on experiment. Explain how the laboratory activity relates to the body system you are studying. Labs can include something we have done in class, a project from a book or a science project/study you create.

Component Four:
References. Students are expected to submit original work. Students must site sources in which they obtain information from. A minimum of three sources is required. Interviews may count as one.

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