Description
Book Synopsis Misinformation has had dramatic and dangerous effects, as evidenced by numerous events of the late 2010s and early 2020s. Reading a steady stream of misinformation leads to distrust, potentially leading to conflict in one''s family and workplace, and even to civil unrest. At the heart of many such matters is scientific illiteracy. Many people enjoy a life of ease and convenience because of science--and since science also crosses courtrooms, classrooms and cultures, it has great potential to debunk misinformation and untangle the confusion on such issues as vaccines, sexual identity, race and evolution, alternative medicine, and human reproduction.
This book addresses those issues and the popular stories, conspiracies, and misleading headlines that circulate across media platforms. Bringing accurate knowledge into people''s agendas is challenging, and this book uses science and facts as a basis of every deliberation over laws and policies. The chapters weave together hist
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Foreword by Jim Obergefell
Preface
Introduction. Approach the Bench: Opening Statements and Newsfeeds
U.S. Landmark Case: New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254 (1964)
(9–0 decision) 7
The Necessity of This Book 7
Legislation 12
Current Events 14
A Popular Press Science Book Is Born 17
Tropism 17
Intellectual Curiosity and Skepticism 18
Science 22
1. Blinded by Science: The Discipline of Facts
U.S. Landmark Case: Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 279 (1993)
(9–0 decision) 25
Scientific Literacy 25
How Science Works 28
Science, Religion and Life 33
2. Hello Dolly: Genetics
U.S. Landmark Case: Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics, 569 U.S. 576 (2013)
(9–0 decision) 36
Principles of Genetics 36
Genetics as a Science 40
Manipulating Genes in Animals and People 41
Cloning and Twinning 41
Types and Purposes of Cloning 44
Eugenics 46
Modifying Genes and Genetic Screening 47
Genetic Engineering 49
3. Time Travel: Evolution and Race
U.S. Landmark Case: Edwards v. Aguillard, 482 U.S. 578 (1987)
(7–2 decision) 52
Dinner Party Topics 52
Evolution 54
Tracing Our Ancestry 57
Classifying Living Things 58
Homo sapiens 58
Coding for Skin Color 59
Human Zoos 61
The Tuskegee Study 62
Racism in Medicine 64
We're More Alike Than We Are Different 67
The Founder Effect 68
4. Jungle Love: Sexual Identity
U.S. Landmark Case: Obergefell v. Hodges, 135 S. Ct. 2584 (2015)
(5–4 decision) 70
Being Gay 70
Chromosomes 73
Sexual Behavior 75
Homosexuality 77
5. Birds and Bees: Human Reproduction
U.S. Landmark Case: Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973), (7–2 decision) 83
Introduction 84
Sex Education 86
Vasectomy, Circumcision and the Hymen 88
Rape 90
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) 91
Overview of Reproductive Structures 93
Oocytes and Sperm 97
Reproductive Biology 98
Problems with Pregnancy 102
Breastfeeding 104
Separation of Church and State 106
The Tension Between Science and Faith: Choice 107
Planned Parenthood, Obstetrics and Gynecology 113
Legislating Reproductive Health 115
6. Staying Alive: Vaccines and the Immune System
U.S. Landmark Case: Bruesewitz v. Wyeth, 562 U.S. 223 (2011)
(6–2 decision) 118
Preventing Disease 118
Vaccines Do Not Cause Autism 119
Vaccine History 121
Our Immune System 123
Vaccines and Vaccine Development 126
Vaccine Myths 131
7. Snake Oil: Complementary and Alternative Medicine
U.S. Landmark Case: Dent v. West Virginia, 129 U.S. 114 (1889)
(9–0 decision) 134
Outside Mainstream Medicine 135
The Placebo Response 137
Acupuncture 138
Homeopathy 139
Naturopathy, Supplements and Herbal Remedies 139
Chiropractic 141
Cardiovascular Disease Treatment 142
Osteoarthritis Treatment 143
Back Pain Treatment 143
Depression and Anxiety Treatment 144
8. I Want a New Drug: The Good, the Bad and the Unknown
U.S. Landmark Case: Gonzales v. Raich, 545 U.S. 1 (2005)
(6–3 decision) 145
A Story About Epinephrine (Adrenaline) 146
Pharmacology 148
Drug Tolerance 153
Drug Cumulative Effect 154
Drug Synergism 154
Drug Development 155
Special Drug Programs 161
Drug Addiction 161
Alcohol 162
Opioids, Marijuana and Tobacco 164
War on Drugs 170
Changing Health Behavior 171
9. The Final Chapter: Death and Dying
U.S. Landmark Case: Cruzan v. Missouri Department of Health, 497 U.S. 261 (1990)
(5–4 decision) 173
Defining Death and Characteristics of Death 173
Brain Death and the Harvard Committee 176
Perspectives on Death 177
Postmortem Myths and Facts 179
Hypothermia and the Diving Reflex 181
Cardiovascular Disease 183
Psychology of Death 185
Palliative Care and Hospice 187
Experiencing Challenging Circumstances and Terminal Lucidity 188
Dying of a Broken Heart 189
Death Penalty 190
Choice at the End 195
Anorexia Nervosa and Cachexia 197
Terminally Ill 199
End-of-Life Decision-Making Organizations 200
On a Final Note 200
Bibliography
Index
