homework key and Myxobolus

Here is the key to Homework 2.

Myxobolus is definitely an animal, but its taxonomic position is apparently uncertain.  From Wikipedia: "Today, the myxozoans, previously thought to be multicellular protozoans are considered animals by many scientists, though their status has not officially changed. Recent molecular studies suggest that they are related to Bilateria or Cnidaria, with Cnidaria being closer morphologically because both groups have extrusive filaments, but with Bilateria being somewhat closer in some genetic studies."

Notes for Tuesday

1) There are no slides for class tomorrow.  You can take notes on your copy of the Miller and Vincent paper.

2) Come prepared to ask questions in preparation for the exam on Thursday.  I will not have extra office hours before the exam--tomorrow in class is it.

Old exam 2--answers

Ask, and ye shall receive.  

The answers to exam 2 from last year are here.

For your own sake, please go over the exam without the answers first!

Mad cows and fish

Check these out for an update on restrictions on animal feed since the Mad Cow scare: To prevent mad cow disease..., FDA announces prohibitions, US tightens mad cow rules. 

The syllabus has been updated to reflect the following changes.  1) There is no new reading or slides for this thursday. We will hear 3 presentations and finish directed evolution.  (Don't forget your homework is due on Thurs.)  2) The reading for next Tuesday (Miller and Vincent 2008) has been posted to the side.  We will also have time on Tuesday to go over the homework and answer questions in preparation for the exam.

Homework 2, monoculture, and a video

In case you missed class today, homework 2 is due next Thursday.

I just read a very nice article from NYT about a political solution to monoculture.  Check it out.

The video that I showed at the beginning of class is not listed on the slides I posted.  You can watch it again here.

GMO reading

You will notice that there was no reading listed on your syllabus for Thursday's class.  It is now.  Please read Wu et al. 2008, Suppression of cotton bollworm in multiple crops in China in areas with Bt toxin-containing cotton.