Chapter 17. science, the environment, and society

The textbook described the research of Edward Saunders as an example of social adaptation. Place the following events from this example in the correct order.

. Saunders found that stock prices on the New York Stock Exchange were slightly higher when the weather was sunny in New York City than when it was cloudy or rainy. Saunders published his findings. Stock price forecasters incorporated Saunders's findings into their predictive models. The phenomenon Saunders had documented disappeared.

Identify the benefits of genetically modified crops, according to those in favor of them.

Benefit(s) They are more resistant to pests and diseases. They stay fresh longer. They can be more nutritious. They produce higher yields.

Identify the concerns about the prospect of widespread human genetic testing.

Concern increased stigmatization, increased social stratification, lack of privacy Not Concern environmental consequences, out-of-control medical costs

Ulrich Beck has drawn attention to the concept of a risk society: a society that both produces and addresses risks to human life and health. These risks are either external or manufactured, meaning that they are either due to natural phenomena or are created by human activity and technology. Identify each example as either an external or a manufactured risk.

External:-death in a tornado-death from disease Manufactured:-death in war-death in a traffic accident

Why are many African Americans especially interested in the prospect of using genetic testing to determine one's family history and ancestral place of origin?

For historical reasons, African Americans often have poorly documented family trees.

Both Angelina Jolie's medical decision and Edward Saunders's discovery of the effects of weather on stock prices point to the importance of social adaptation. Identify the implications of social adaptation.

Implications Whether cause A has effect B can depend on social circumstances. Government must allow for the social response to facts that laws are based on. Not Implication What counts as a wise decision depends on social norms.

Identify the topics that would be part of the sociology of science.

Included Topic(s) how the public responds to claims by scientists how scientists engaged in scientific research make their decisions how scientific fraud is uncovered Not Included Topic how scientific theories should be tested

According to sociologist John Evans, what might help a new technology gain acceptance in the United States or in any other country?

Introducing the new technology in bureaucratic language.

The textbook described the research of Edward Saunders as an example of social adaptation. Place the following events from this example in the correct order.

Saunders found that stock prices on the New York Stock Exchange were slightly higher when the weather was sunny in New York City than when it was cloudy or rainy. Saunders published his findings. Stock price forecasters incorporated Saunders's findings into their predictive models. The phenomenon Saunders had documented disappeared.

One possible explanation for the evolutionary survival of homosexuality is antagonistic pleiotropy. What would that mean, as applied to homosexuality?

one gene both promotes overall fertility and leads to some percentage of offspring being homosexual

Identify the concerns about the use of DNA testing in a criminological context.

Concern(s) involuntary disclosure of family genetics to government authorities effects related to socioeconomic status the one-directional impact of DNA evidence Not Concern fear that test results will be used to justify preemptive arrests, prior to any actual crime. the high error rate associated with DNA testing

Identify the concerns about the use of DNA testing in a criminological context.

Concern(s) involuntary disclosure of family genetics to government authorities the one-directional impact of DNA evidence effects related to socioeconomic status

According to scientist Vandana Shiva, identify the consequences of the green revolution that occurred in developing nations in the second half of the twentieth century.

Consequence(s) It depleted soil nutrients. It contributed to the loss of crop biodiversity. It increased the burden on the available water supply.

Identify the true and false statements about how deforestation contributes to global warming.

True The loss of trees means less absorption of free CO2. Burning of trees releases CO2. False Deforested areas give off more water vapor. Deforested areas give off methane, CH4.

Identify the true and false statements about scientific research.

True Statement(s) The research questions scientists choose to investigate are often a matter of personal preference or interest. Scientific research is driven partly by the availability of private or public funding. False Statement(s) Scientific research is guided by the search for factual truth and not by moral considerations. Scientists work in an objective, value-neutral fashion, setting aside personal biases and outside pressures.