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This seminar introduces cutting-edge biology, genetics, and neuroscience through primary research papers while encouraging discussion of what?s next through short science fiction stories. Sometimes imagination leads science; other times fiction popularizes a scientific discovery, tool, or invention. What is possible, aspirational, or cautionary? Topics include: memory, identity, evolution, humanity, destiny, augmentation. Papers on zombie cockroaches, de-extinction, synthetic life, extra senses, implanted memories; Stories by Borges, Dick, Butler, Murakami, McCaffrey, Jemison, and Chiang

Prerequisites: Freshmen/1st year Prebiology majors only.

1

Units

Pass no pass

Grading

1, 2, 3

Passtime

Lower division only

Level Limit

Letters and science

College
These majors only prbio biocs
Julie Simpson
3.6
16 reviews
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MCDB 15JS Simpson J H Spring 2025 Total: 16
MCDB 15JS Simpson J H Spring 2023 Total: 14
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16
3.6
MCDB101B . 4 Months Ago

If you want to succeed, you'll need to put in the time. Similar to Gen Chem, make sure to stay on top of the weekly book problems. Come to section with questions you don't get. She posts exams from 2017 onwards so do them all before the exam. You're tested not on application of content but on how well you recognize the problem and know what to do.

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
MCDB101B . 5 Months Ago

While yes, she was heavy on the material and would go fast on some slides - I prefer her WAY MORE than some professors in the MCDB department. You can tell she's passionate about what she teaches. Of course, the course isn't easy, but she's always ready to answer questions in lecture and OH. Overall, shout out to Simpson.

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MCDB101B . 8 Months Ago

She doesn't explain things the most clearly during lectures and sometimes skips content due to time constraints, but you can just read the textbooks after lectures. They're recorded but there are iclickers. Weekly quizzes are not made by her, but you can access past quarter exams for practice.

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101B . 8 Months Ago

Simpson is knowledgable and the course is interesting. But, the material is very hard and she tends to skip over important concepts, as they are trying to fit in SO much material into a 10 week course. I felt like I never learned anything well. The tests are also really fast which is weird for an upper division course.

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MCDB101B . 1 Year, 8 Months Ago

I have never loved a class more. I took her 101BH section too and felt like it helped contextualize everything. She has so much passion for what she does and has a great way of organizing her lectures. I have wanted to go to medical school my whole life, but she made me consider going to graduate school for genetics. Take her if you have the chance

0 helpful 0 unhelpful
MCDB101B . 3 Years Ago

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