Rationale

• Consider the possibility that the goals of the course are worthwhile
• Consider the possibility that the goals of the course are achievable
• Consider the possibility that the route to the goals may be interesting
• Learn how to use BioBIKE (a major tool in this course)
• Learn how to find research articles (a major tool in life, if liberally interpretted)
• First pass at how to read research articles
• How to distinguish a result from a conclusion (basic to a creative life, whatever your field of endeavor)

Readings and Investigations
    Web Site: Course at a Glance
            Presentation from Thursday, August 21
    Web Site: How to find articles
    Web Site: Pub Med Help
    Web Site: How to read articles
    Investigation: What is a Gene? (including its companion)
            Practice learning how to learn from reality rather than from a book
            The companion helps you get started with BioBIKE
    Article: Schwartz MA (2008). The importance of stupidity in science. J Cell Sci 121:1771
            (Link works only on campus. Otherwise go through the library.)

Things to do and hand in
    24 Aug: Personal Questionnaire (if not by or on 24 Aug then as soon thereafter as possible)
    28 Aug: Exam - What is this course? (due no later than 9 AM Monday)
      1 Sep: Problem Set 1 - Strategies of Life, Finding Articles
      8 Sep: Investigation - What is a Gene? (including its companion)