Date of Award
Spring 2009
Document Type
Dissertation - Restricted
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Educational Policy and Leadership
First Advisor
Whipp, Joan
Second Advisor
Colton, Shannon
Third Advisor
Howes, Ruth
Abstract
There has been a recent explosion of attention paid to controversial topics in biological sciences. Public debates surround the development of recombinant DNA technologies including agricultural and pharmaceutical products, cloning, stem cell research, the Human Genome Project and DNA "fingerprinting." These cases of biomolecular genetics have spurred concern around the ethics and safety of these methods. To understand these topics and to accurately inform policy-making strategies, an increased literacy in the area of biomolecular genetics is essential for the general population. Therefore, it is essential to understand how people may improve their literacy, or more specifically, their bioliteracy, of this topic...