The Zoology Board presents its suggested reading for the month of March, complete with bioluminescent sharks!
Weird Earth – Donald R. Prothero
There are undeniably a lot of conspiracy theories about the earth and what occurs here. Prothero covers some major conspiracy theories such as flat earth and the moon landing being faked and explains not only why these ideas are false but also why people believe them
She Has her Mother’s Laugh – Carl Zimmer
This book is an admittedly long history of genetics. The discovery of heritability and genes themselves are discussed at length. In addition, many ethical ramifications of modern genetics are covered in the context of past eugenics and other harmful ideologies.
Demon Fish – Juliet Eilperin
As a shark lover, this book spoke to me on a deep level. The author discusses the critical threats sharks face in the wild as a result of human activity. However, the author takes a nuanced approach to sensitive topics surrounding shark fishing in areas that depend on the industry for survival. The important question of where the line should be drawn between human welfare and animal protection is ultimately left to the reader, however, it is emphasized that a balance must be struck to ensure the health of the ocean and those that depend on it.
Articles
The genes behind the sexiest birds on the planet | Science | AAAS (sciencemag.org)
The hunt for life on Mars: A visual guide to NASA’s latest mission (nature.com)
‘Giant luminous shark’: researchers discover three deep-sea sharks glow in the dark | Sharks | The Guardian
OWU Sponsoring Organization/Office: Zoology Student Board
Contact: Anna Schill at aeschill@owu.edu