In the Pandemic Module, students will read three articles on the 1918 influenza pandemic genome. The articles discuss the scientific research for reconstruction and the scientific community's decision to publish the complete genome. Students will read and discuss these three articles, noting how the authors develop their arguments. They will conclude the module by writing a 500-word (2- to 3-page) editorial that identifies a problem with publishing this research and argues in favor or against controlling the publication of certain types of scientific research.
The pandemic module fits into a larger integrated interdisciplinary unit entitled "Catch the Fever," designed to support student inquiry around the essential question: How has the development of society influenced the evolution of microorganisms? In Subunit 3, the subunit that contains this module, students examine the impact of epidemics on society. They examine different views regarding the study of viruses, balancing perspectives aimed at advancing scientific knowledge against concerns about the potential for abuse. Students examine how literature can be used as a vehicle for conveying a realistic sense of the events and the anxiety that accompanies the spread of infectious disease. Students will also compare the actual events surrounding and contributing to historical epidemics. The unit concludes with students preparing an in-depth presentation on a communicable disease of their choice.
