Group 2

Our last class period, our group walked towards the BAS.  We started our discussion with immortality (I know, I know!  We are beating a dead horse. I won't go into the details of the discussion because you have heard it over and over).  We then went into the issue of the day, genetically engineered babies (or designer babies for short).  We discussed what we felt designer babies and how we felt about them.  We mostly all had similar views on the subject.  We mostly believed that genetically engineering babies was not something that should be done lightly.  We felt that there were some instances in which designer babies would be acceptable such as to increase disease resistance, remove genetic diseases, etc.  We felt that "determining a child's fate" through genetic engineering was something that should be pondered more before it is implemented.  We felt the morality of this idea was still unclear.  Should we give these children traits to succeed on a path that they may resent?  Would the child resent the parents for forcing them to be this way?

Group 1: Chapters 4+5

Just posting this so my group will have something to post on!

(FQ) The views of this philosopher are recognized as best known and most elaborate in regards to the concept of autonomy.
Answer: Habermas (pg. 51)

(FQ) Name 2 of J. Robert Loftis' classes of arguments that are commonly deployed against genetic manipulation.
Answer: Safety, Justice, Trust, and Naturalness (pg. 79)

(FQ) T/F: McKibben is optimistic of genetic engineering, believing it will enable us to modify and improve the quality of humans' lives.
Answer: False (pg. 98)

(DQ) I'd like to see what about genetic manipulation is "against the natural order" to the class if anyone considers it that.

Link: http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/embryo-screening-and-the-ethics-of-human-60561

Lyceum: "Disconcerting Experience"

David Wood, of Vanderbilt, Oxford (U.K.), and Woodbury (TN) speaks this afternoon at 5 in BAS S128, on "Disconcerting Experience." A question and answer period and informal reception will follow the event. 

A Day in the Life of David Wood...

Class cancelled

I'm not feeling well today, we won't meet. We'll double up Tuesday.

jpo

Group 3

     Our group walked to the KUC. We talked about engineering intelligence through genetics and the sort of society that would come from that. Some people would be born with greater capacities for intelligence and would be more favored in career positions. This would lead to a gap between those whose parents can afford to engineer their children and those who cannot. Those who cannot get engineered before birth would not be able to perform as good as these genetically engineered citizens without much practice. However, even If a non-engineered person practices a lot that does not guarantee they will be on the same level. This sort of society would favor more intelligent people. The more intelligent people would receive better paying jobs to allow them to afford to engineer their children. Less intelligent people would not receive jobs with as much pay and would not be able to engineer their children. This society would over time lock these to groups into their places with some families scraping enough money together to make the children more intelligent to move up the ladder of success. 

I personally would not mind this sort of society for a few years as long as there was a set date that the government would eventually just engineer the rest of all babies to create an even playing field.  However, I also have to wonder if the engineering the government would do on mass would be as good as a private biological engineering firm would. Would the government stop where the private firm would continue and could the government use this engineering opportunity to make us more docile and less likely to revolt against a dictator? I would not like that.  

      

Where'd everybody go?

And what'd you talk about, as you went there?

Remember, "an author from each group should still post a comment after each class and everyone should reply with comments, FQs, DQs, & links. Be prepared to suggest discussion topics in class."

On peripatetic walkabout days there need to be posted accounts of your discussions, with contributions from all who participated, and the author summaries need to go up on the same day.

If you don't want to participate, just say so. We'll find something else for you to do indoors. Or else we'll take a vote on whether to do any more walkabouts. But doing nothing is not an option.

C'mon, folks. I hate having to talk like a cranky teacher.

Video: Thank You For Vaping

"E-cigarettes are not cigarettes. As the name suggests, they simulate smoking and, via an inner heating element, deliver nicotine through the vapor of liquid nicotine instead of the combustion of tobacco leaves. That’s why e-cigarettes are often promoted as a safer alternative to smoking. But the public-health debate is in full bloom..."

Video: Thank You For Vaping : The New Yorker

Daily Quiz

April 8

1. With what sorts of traits does Russell Blackford say there would be no obvious cause for ethical complaint, were they pre-selected by parents?

2. Are we equally likely someday to be able to engineer our children's "life plans" and "capacities"?

3. What political philosopher's approach does Nicholas Agar apply to the ethics of genetic engineering?

4. What kind of problematic trade-off does the modular model imply might be entailed by genetic engineering?

5. Health and intelligence are forms of _____.

6. What are some "great historical enhancements of the past"?

7. Does RB think there's an absolute right of people not to use new reproductive technologies that violate their own personal religious or  moral convictions?

1. 31. 2. 33. 3. 33. 4. 34. 5. 37. 6. 44. 7. 48

ALSO OF NOTE:

FQ: Why wouldn't it be illiberal of some hypothetical future society (acc'g toRB) to compel people to genetically manipulate their children? 46-7

FQ: What do we owe children, acc'g to Glover? 44

DQ: Can Abigail plausibly claim to be risking no harm? 32

DQ: Is the stipulated definition of intelligence on p.34 a good one? Does it adequately reflect the possibility of "multiple intelligences"?*

DQ: Does anyone ever really wish they were less intelligent? 35

DQ: Is "you never know" a good way to frame our discussions of genetic engineering? Can we afford not to be more reliable "predictors of the future," if we're going to try and enhance our offspring? 35-6

DQ: Are genetic potentials always good to be born with, even when they lead to bad consequences? 38

DQ: "Nothing guarantees happiness." (39) Does that imply that we should take a more experimental approach to engineering it, or replicating its conditions? (A question to bear in mind when we read Generosity).

"Positional advantage" - ethically irrelevant? 41

"Futile race between rival parents" 42

What does "liberal tolerance" mean, when applied to hypothetical attempts to engineer a 9-ft tall superathlete? 43

FQ: T/F. Productive synergies can emerge as more individuals in a society find their individual capacities enhanced.
(True) p.44

FQ: T/F. According to the text, if resources are not available to all parents to genetically enhance their children to meet the new standard, government should provide them through systems like tax-transfer.
(True) p.48

DQ: If the enhancement of a persons intelligence, longevity, etc. became possible in the remote future, do you think that liberal democracy would survive? That is, if one country makes a law to genetically enhance(make better) their entire population while the more liberal country does not have any laws mandating the enhancement, the latter country will lose its international strength.

link: http://neuroethics.upenn.edu/index.php/penn-neuroethics-briefing/cognitive-enhancement
talks about cognitive enhancement and the three ethical issues that surround the idea

*

Group 2

Our discussion focused around Mills' Harm Principle.  The Harm Principle says the actions of individuals should only be limited to prevent harm to other individuals (Or simply, "if it doesn't hurt anyone but me, I should be able to do it").  We then talked about how most actions of people somehow can be shown to affect others in some way or another.  We talked about personal health (especially in regards to food: portion, quality, cost, etc.) affecting everyone by poor health causing higher cost for health insurance.  So should government have a say in how we eat?  What we eat?  Should we allow the government to take a paternalistic role over our lives, or should we be left to make our own discisons?  What do you think?

Group 3

We discussed about the Harm Principle as we saw in the first book that we read. It was mentioned that this is one of the reasons why we have laws and regulations by the government. This brought us to the discussion of the boundaries that our government sets for us and if the Harm Principle affects individuals for themselves rather than an individual affecting others. Food regulations in terms of portion size, quality, and cost were considered as an example.

Group 1, Class Discussion- HE 1+2

After discussing Dr. O's daily post, we delved into a discussion on the Harm Principle. Kat wanted to try to set boundaries on what constitutes harm and where blame should and shouldn't be placed, especially when you enter the public. This led to a brief talk about law enforcement and why the police do what they do (generally, they're just doing their job). We then went around the room to ascertain others' opinions on the Harm Principle. Meredith said she was uncomfortable with others controlling what she did or, for example, what she ate. Evan believes that even when you give people more information based on what they consume, it's unlikely to drastically affect their decisions.

The conversation revolved around food portion control for awhile with a lot of us uncomfortable with the idea of them being controlled for us. We also discussed a paradox of healthy eating for a good while (foods that are better for you cost more money).

Daily Quiz

April 3

1. What does Russell Blackford propose to focus on, in Humanity Enhanced? OR, with what sorts of "enhancements" will he not be particularly concerned?

2. What's the difference between reproductive and therapeutic cloning?

3. Does Blackford think the prospect of Homo proteus and the destruction of liberal democracy is overhyped?

4. Does "ethical pluralism" require the enforcement of a pubolic morality?

5. What's been the "broad direction" of public policy regarding PGD & sperm sorting for sex selection?

6. What kinds of "harms" are (or are not) recognized by Feinberg?

7. What is the Non-identity Principle?

8. What can a liberal society not be neutral about?

1. (1-2). 2.  (2-3). 3. (3). 4.(7). 5. (9) 6. (17) 7. (20) 8. (25)

ALSO OF NOTE:

FQ: What lenient standard of child nurture and health do "we" tend to support? For what conditions does RB say the state may forbid the use of PGD? 26-7


JS Mill's Harm Principle-4. Locke's Letter-5. State's role in a pluralistic & liberal society-6-7. Distinction between enhancement & therapy-12.

DQ: Do you agree that prohibiting "sex selection for family balancing" would be illiberal? Is allowing a practice the same as an endorsement? 10

DQ: Do you have to exist, to suffer (in principle) harm? Can we harm "future people"? 13-15, 19f.

DQ: "Why should benefits from genetic engineering be an exception?"-14

DQ: What's RB's view of state paternalism, & what's yours? - 18

DQ: personal identity issues 19-20

Deaf PGD 21

"Has Abigail done anything wrong?" 20-1

Is Feinberg's "extension" right? 23

DQ: Mapping the fetal brain... (npr)

DQ: stem cell fraud

Exam 2

April 1 - Exam #2                                                                           NAME/Group: ______________

T/F

1. The idea of teleportation originated with Gene Roddenberry.

        

2. With synthesized DNA, says Venter, it will eventually be possible to create all forms of life.

          

3. Genomics cannot address the problem of antibiotic resistance. 

4. Venter says his team added "watermarks" to their synthetic genome mainly to indulge his vanity.

           

5. In nature's "master robot" the ribosome, RNA copies instructions for making a protein from DNA. 

6. There is more biomass in the visible world  than in Earth's subsurface.

7. Mycoplasma genitalium was the first organism to be modeled in precise detail.

8. Panspermia is the hypothesis that life exists throughout the Universe, distributed by meteoroids, asteroids, comets and planetoids.

9. 200 years ago scientists had a hard time accepting DNA as a ''code script'' because it seemed far too complex in composition to transmit genetic information.

10. Taking antibiotics harms bacterial and human cells equally.

GLOSSARY: Apocalyptic, bacteriophages, beneficence, canines, Francis Crick, Digital, DNA, E-Cell, eukaryotes, Haemophilus Influenzae, neanderthals, nuclear transfer, oxygen, Post-human, primates, RNA, Fred Sanger, Lucy Shapiro, Hans Spemann, quorum sensing, stewardship, Trans-human, UV radiation, James Watson

11. The Japanese effort to turn Mycoplasma genitalium into a computer-simulated version of the cell was the ______ project.

12. ________ demonstrated that bacteria are not just disorganized bags of proteins, and showed that seemingly-discrete events in the bacterial life cycle are actually connected. 

13. Drug resistant infections may be treated in the future with synthetic _______.

14. Key producers of genetic mutations include _______.

15. Guiding ethical principles relevant to the social implications of emerging technologies include _______.

16. Bacteria coordinate the behaviors of their cell populations via ________.

17. Humans and ______ share 3-4% of their DNA.

18. ______ is both an information carrier and an enzyme.

19. This is the _____ Age of Biology.

20. The first live organism sequenced by Venter's method was _____.

EXTRA CREDIT: After reading Life at the Speed of Light, do you agree or disagree with Craig Venter that life on Earth is not "special, or unique," that we are not alone in the cosmos, and that the new era of synthetic biology will be empowering and extraordinary? Why?

OR, supply & respond to your own DQ.

Stem cell fraud

Not an April fool.

A Japanese scientist partly falsified a research paper that announced a breakthrough in the production of stem cells, the government-funded laboratory involved has announced. The results from the Riken Centre for Development Biology in Kobe, western Japan, were seen as a possible groundbreaking method, offering hope of growing "Stap cell" tissue to treat illnesses such as diabetes and Parkinson's disease using a simple lab procedure. Researchers in Boston and Japan conducted the experiments in using a simple procedure to turn ordinary cells from mice into stem cells by exposing cells from spleens of newborn mice to a more acidic environment than they are used to. The researchers said cells from other tissues of newborn mice appeared to go through the same change, which could be triggered by exposing cells to any of a variety of stressful situations...

Stap cells: research paper on stem cell breakthrough was partly falsified | Science | theguardian.com

But didja hear about Sidd Finch?!

Compiled Test Quesitons

Compiled Questions

1. The idea of teleportation originated with Gene Roddenberry.

           (False)

2. The biggest misconception about teleportation is that it involves sending material stuff

           (True)

3. With synthesized DNA, says Venter, it will eventually be possible to create all forms of life.

           (True)

4. Antibiotics are all destined to become useless after a while, and genomics cannot help

           (False)

5. Why did Venter's team add "watermarks" to their synthetic genome

           (To distinguish it from any naturally occurring species)

6. The process of transferring the genome of one species into the cell of another is called ______.

           (Nuclear Transfer)

7. What was the first live organism sequenced by Venter's method

           (Haemophilus Influenzae)

8. Who pioneered the plus-minus sequencing of DNA and sequenced the first viral DNA genome?

           (Fred Sanger)

1. What two scientists are credited with the discovery of the structure of DNA?
James Watson and Francis Crick

2. True/False: Ribosomes transcribe DNA into RNA
False

3. What color do gram positive bacteria stain?
Purple

4. What way does radiation affect DNA structure?
It breaks the chemical bonds that link the nitrogenous bases together

5. Who was the German embryologist who published the first nuclear-transplantation experiments, pioneer of his self-named "developmental mechanics," and awarded the Nobel Prize for his efforts in 1935?
Hans Spemann (p. 97)

6. What example does Venter use for reconciling that his positive innovations could potentially be used for negative purposes?
The use of fire, since the beginning of human existence, could be used for good or evil. pg 154

7. What was the name of the Japanese project to turn Mycoplasma genitalium into a computer-simulated version of the cell? 
E-Cell Project

8. What scientist is known for her work on bacterial cell division and proving spatial organization inside of bacterial cells, especially in regards to division and the cell cycle?
Lucy Shapiro (p.145)

9. What does Venter think is a very realistic and specific way that drug resistant infections can be treated in the future?
Synthetic bacteriophages (pg 176)

10. What television series popularized the idea of the transporter?
Star Trek (p. 160)

1.T/F. There is as much biomass in the subsurface of the Earth as in the entire visible world.
(True)

2.What are some key producers of genetic mutations?
(Oxygen and UV radiation)

3.What makes phages a possible alternative to anti-bacterial disease?
(Their specificity for the targeted bacterial culture)

4.Name 2 of the 5 guiding ethical principles which are considered relevant to the social implications of emerging technologies.
(Public beneficence, responsible stewardship, intellectual freedom and responsibility, democratic deliberation, justice and fairness)

5. Proteins that contain a zinc atom and are shaped like an index finger which help read the DNA software are called _____?
(zinc fingers)

6. What natural technique do bacteria perform to coordinate the behaviors of their cell populations?
(Quorum sensing)

7. What was the first organism to be modeled in precise detail?
(Mycoplasma genitalium)

8. T/F. Pansperima is a hypothesis that life exists throughout the Universe, distributed by meteoroids, asteroids, comets and planetoids.
(True)

9. T/F. Specialized cells can be returned into an immature cell.
(True)

10.  Eukaryotic cell's engulfment of the microbial mitochondria driven by evolution is called ____?
(Endosymbiosis)

11.   How much genetic material do Modern humans and Neanderthals share?
(3-4%) 

12. T/F In the late 18th century/early 19th century, scientists had a hard time accepting DNA as a ''code script'' because it seemed far too simple in composition to transmit genetic information.
(True)

13. ___ is more versatile than DNA in a way that it is both an information carrier and an enzyme.
(RNA, ribonucleic acid)

14. T/F. Human and bacterial ribosomes are indistinguishable, thus taking antibiotics harms both the bacterial and the human cells equally.

(False)

15. The age in which the once distinct domains of computer codes and those that program life are beginning to merge is called _____?
(The Digital Age of biology)

Group Two

Last class we brought continued on with the idea of human "immortality."  As a class, we had many different view points.  Some were of the mind that it would be a good thing.  There is so much in the universe that we do not know, and having longer to experience and learn would allow us to find these hidden treasures of knowledge and experience.  Others felt that immortality would lead to the fall of mankind.  With so many people living forever, and they having children who will live forever, and them having children that will live forever, (I could keep going, but I won't), we will eventually overburden our strained planet.  When we run out of resources, we will starve to death (and we haven't quite thought out the idea of surviving that).  Others felt that having an eternity to do things, would lead to the "I'll do it later" attitude, and lead to an eternity of procrastination and un-motivated people who will never get anything done.  I think there were a few other good thoughts that were mentioned, but unfortunately I cannot recall them.  We then talked briefly on the movie/book Divergent, and its main philosophical conundrums.

Humanity Enhanced

Before or after exam #2 tomorrow we'll preview our next read, Russell Blackford's Humanity Enhanced. His website is here. And his twitter account.

Group 2 Study questions

1. The idea of teleportation originated with Gene Roddenberry.

           (False)

2. The biggest misconception about teleportation is that it involves sending material stuff

           (True)

3. With synthesized DNA, says Venter, it will eventually be possible to create all forms of life.

           (True)

4. Antibiotics are all destined to become useless after a while, and genomics cannot help

           (False)

5. Why did Venter's team add "watermarks" to their synthetic genome

           (To distinguish it from any naturally occurring species)

6. The process of transferring the genome of one species into the cell of another is called ______.

           (Nuclear Transfer)

7. What was the first live organism sequenced by Venter's method

           (Haemophilus Influenzae)

8. Who pioneered the plus-minus sequencing of DNA and sequenced the first viral DNA genome?

           (Fred Sanger)

Group 1 Study Guide Questions

1. What two scientists are credited with the discovery of the structure of DNA?
James Watson and Francis Crick

2. True/False: Ribosomes transcribe DNA into RNA
False

3. What color do gram positive bacteria stain?
Purple

4. What way does radiation affect DNA structure?
It breaks the chemical bonds that link the nitrogenous bases together

5. Who was the German embryologist who published the first nuclear-transplantation experiments, pioneer of his self-named "developmental mechanics," and awarded the Nobel Prize for his efforts in 1935?
Hans Spemann (p. 97)

6. What example does Venter use for reconciling that his positive innovations could potentially be used for negative purposes?
The use of fire, since the beginning of human existence, could be used for good or evil. pg 154

7. What was the name of the Japanese project to turn Mycoplasma genitalium into a computer-simulated version of the cell? 
E-Cell Project

8. What scientist is known for her work on bacterial cell division and proving spatial organization inside of bacterial cells, especially in regards to division and the cell cycle?
Lucy Shapiro (p.145)

9. What does Venter think is a very realistic and specific way that drug resistant infections can be treated in the future?
Synthetic bacteriophages (pg 176)

10. What television series popularized the idea of the transporter?
Star Trek (p. 160)

Group 3 Study Guide Questions

1.T/F. There is as much biomass in the subsurface of the Earth as in the entire visible world.
(True)

2.What are some key producers of genetic mutations?
(Oxygen and UV radiation)

3.What makes phages a possible alternative to anti-bacterial disease?
(Their specificity for the targeted bacterial culture)

4.Name 2 of the 5 guiding ethical principles which are considered relevant to the social implications of emerging technologies.
(Public beneficence, responsible stewardship, intellectual freedom and responsibility, democratic deliberation, justice and fairness)

5. Proteins that contain a zinc atom and are shaped like an index finger which help read the DNA software are called _____?
(zinc fingers)

6. What natural technique do bacteria perform to coordinate the behaviors of their cell populations?
(Quorum sensing)

7. What was the first organism to be modeled in precise detail?
(Mycoplasma genitalium)

8. T/F. Pansperima is a hypothesis that life exists throughout the Universe, distributed by meteoroids, asteroids, comets and planetoids.
(True)

9. T/F. Specialized cells can be returned into an immature cell.
(True)

10.  Eukaryotic cell's engulfment of the microbial mitochondria driven by evolution is called ____?
(Endosymbiosis)

11.   How much genetic material do Modern humans and Neanderthals share?
(3-4%)

12. T/F In the late 18th century/early 19th century, scientists had a hard time accepting DNA as a ''code script'' because it seemed far too simple in composition to transmit genetic information.
(True)

13. ___ is more versatile than DNA in a way that it is both an information carrier and an enzyme.
(RNA, ribonucleic acid)

14. T/F. Human and bacterial ribosomes are indistinguishable, thus taking antibiotics harms both the bacterial and the human cells equally.

(False)

15. The age in which the once distinct domains of computer codes and those that program life are beginning to merge is called _____?
(The Digital Age of biology)