Subject essay assignment: Choose one of the following topics, and write a paper of 500 words addressing the question based on additional information beyond what you learned in the lectures.
A. Invisible Threats
Classic evolutionary theory says that existing species change, and new species arise, when random gene mutations lead to structures or functions that have adaptive value – that is, that lead to better survival and reproductive success. Of course, this dynamic applies to all of life, beginning with bacteria, and even to some entities that might not qualify as living, such as viruses. Find reliable popular science sources describing the challenge to human health of the evolution of pathogens, why this is such a big problem, and what we might do about it to prevent the destruction of the human race.
