Group 3 (Ch.6,7)

FQ: Eukaryotic cell's engulfment of the microbial mitochondria driven by evolution is called ____?
(Endosymbiosis) p.100

FQ:  How much genetic material do Modern humans and Neanderthals share?
(3-4%) p.87

FQ: T/F. Possibility of transplanting a synthetic genome into a recipient cell and proving that DNA was the software of life were major implications that came out of converting M. mycoides species into M. capricolum.
(True)

DQ: I would like to discuss vitalism and everyone's opinion on whether this philosophy is weakening with further scientific advances.

Link: http://www.icr.org/article/neanderthals-are-still-human/
Differences and similarities between modern humans and Neanderthals.

Venter, Chapter 6 and 7

(FQ) What way does radiation affect DNA structure?
Answer: It breaks the chemical bonds that link the nitrogenous bases together

(FQ) What is the process of transferring the genome of one species into the cell of another called?
Answer: Nuclear Transfer

(FQ) What is polymerase chain reaction used for?
Answer: Amplifying and producing copies of DNA fragments

(DQ) I'd like to continue discussing what sort of problems could be solved by synthetic organisms (some more problems are presented at the end of Chapter 8).

Provided is a link discussing everything you'd like to know about DNA:
http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/basics/dna

Sherwin B. Nuland, R.I.P.

Dr. Sherwin B. Nuland, a surgeon and author who drew on more than 35 years in medicine and a childhood buffeted by illness in writing “How We Die,” an award-winning book that sought to dispel the notion of death with dignity and fueled a national conversation about end-of-life decisions, died on Monday at his home in Hamden, Conn. He was 83. The cause was prostate cancer, his daughter Amelia Nuland said. To Dr. Nuland, death was messy and frequently humiliating, and he believed that seeking the good death was pointless and an exercise in self-deception. He maintained that only an uncommon few, through a lucky confluence of circumstances, reached life’s end before the destructiveness of dying eroded their humanity. “I have not seen much dignity in the process by which we die,” he wrote. “The quest to achieve true dignity fails when our bodies fail...

"The dignity we seek in dying must be found in the dignity with which we have lived our lives.”

Sherwin B. Nuland, Author of ‘How We Die,’ Is Dead at 83 - NYTimes.com

Group 3 Presentation

We will be referring back to the lifeboat situation in the first book we read (Bioethics the Basics). We watched Life of Pi which provided another lifeboat situation and will compare the two situations.

Nikita - Provide a summary of the whole movie from the beginning to the end.
            Close the presentation with discussing, "Religion in movies for promotion."
Dustin - Discuss "How does this movie make you believe in God(s)?" and "Aristotle's philosophy."
Elijah - Discuss "Which story would you rather believe in?" and "Can people control their animalistic side?"
Maiki - Explain the lifeboat situation from Bioethics the Basic and review Campbell's opinion. Then, discuss our opinion. Also bring the discussion, "What would you do in either of the lifeboat situations?"

Everybody contributed to the powerpoint slides

A powerful new way to edit DNA

...In the past year or so, researchers have discovered that the bacterial system can be harnessed to make precise changes to the DNA of humans, as well as other animals and plants.

This means a genome can be edited, much as a writer might change words or fix spelling errors. It allows “customizing the genome of any cell or any species at will,” said Charles Gersbach, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering at Duke University...

Already the molecular system, known as Crispr, is being used to make genetically engineered laboratory animals more easily than could be done before, with changes in multiple genes. Scientists in China recently made monkeys with changes in two genes.

Scientists hope Crispr might also be used for genomic surgery, as it were, to correct errant genes that cause disease. Working in a laboratory — not, as yet, in actual humans — researchers at the Hubrecht Institute in the Netherlands showed they could fix a mutation that causes cystic fibrosis.

But even as it is stirring excitement, Crispr is raising profound questions. Like other technologies that once wowed scientists — like gene therapy,stem cells and RNA interference — it will undoubtedly encounter setbacks before it can be used to help patients.

It is already known, for instance, that Crispr can sometimes change genes other than the intended ones. That could lead to unwanted side effects.

The technique is also raising ethical issues. The ease of creating genetically altered monkeys and rodents could lead to more animal experimentation. And the technique of altering genes in their embryos could conceivably work with human embryos as well, raising the specter of so-called designer babies...

A powerful new way to edit DNA

Group 2-Project

We are going to be presenting on the issue of Animal Testing.  We have done a lot of research and found a lot of interesting facts for and against animal testing. We found some times when we feel that animal testing is called for and some instances in which animal testing should not be used.

Our project will break down like this:
Alexus: Introduction
Mitch: Medical Breakthroughs and Animal Testing
Kristen: Inhumane Conditions and the AWA
Cameron: Drawing the Line for Animal Testing
Alyssa: Cruelty Free Testing and Conclusion
All: Questions

A few interesting links:

http://medicinalanimalexperimentationpointlesscrueltyornecessaryevil.weebly.com/pros-and-cons.html

http://animal-testing.procon.org/

http://www.aboutanimaltesting.co.uk/using-animals-testing-pros-versus-cons.html

http://levmm1.wordpress.com/2010/12/11/the-pros-and-cons/​

Group 1 Mid-Term Presentation: Summary Post

Kat took a look at three artists that use body parts, either their own or others', in order to Kat took a look at three artists that use body parts, either their own or others', in order to create art pieces. There are quite a few ethical questions to raise: Is it selfish of Mark Quinn to use his own blood this way instead of donating it? Does the message that Andrew Krasnow is trying to send outweigh the importance of the skin samples he takes from medical supplies? Do we even "get" this message when looking at his pieces (as opposed to Francois Robert)? Why would someone take issue with Linda Jones' pieces? Do you find them disturbing? Why/why not? Overall, my project focuses on these questions and the aesthetic appeal of human flesh/blood/bones/medical supplies. Do we find these pieces beautiful?

Logan’s work consists of an investigation of the Alder Hey organ scandal, in which Dutch pathologist Dick van Velzen ordered for the illegal seizure and retention of organs from dead infants and children. This issue brings up the ethics and morality of what to do with cadavers, and what happens when physicians place greater value on the constituents of a human as opposed to their lives.

Emily wrote about the manipulation of a cadaver for theatrical, entertainment, and anatomy purposes. The experiment is called Project 12:31. Joseph Jernigan, who was sentenced to murder due to him killing a 75 year old man during a robbery, agreed to donate his body to scientific and medical research. His cadaver was donated to the Visible Human Project, where they cross sectioned it into 1,871 single millimeter slices. Photographer Frank Schott then took multiple pictures of the pieces. The purpose of this was to “facilitate anatomy visualization applications,” giving better more 3D insights of the human anatomy, but it raised ethical concerns to some groups, with main ones saying the medical profession should have nothing to do with executions, and it was scrutinizing the individual. Art director Croix Gagnon worked with him and they ran the slices through an animation illuminating the internal images. They created a process where they played the video of the cross sectioned body on a laptop at night and recorded the video using night photography, manipulating laptop animation and leveraging abnormally long exposures. The end result was “long exposure light paintings of the cadaver” which look like ghostly figures haunting photos.  There are a series of photographs in Project 12:31, with the cadaver appearing in different positions and locations.

Meredith’s work consists of an investigation and description of Body Worlds, which is an exhibition of dead bodies with the primary goal of health education.  Exhibits are deceased human, and even animal, bodies that are medically altered to show what’s under the skin in order to better understand human anatomy and physiology.

Evan’s basic outline consists of a short history of the discovery of anatomy through dissection, morality and ethicality through the years as relating to larger religions, laws and other codes put in place by society;
why people deal with death the way they do; when and why is it ethical and legal in our society to dissect a dead body and the ethicality of a person’s after death wishes and the movement of their body.

For further reading…

Kat’s Subject: http://weburbanist.com/2010/08/23/body-art-creations-made-of-human-flesh-blood-bones/

Logan’s Subject: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/1136723.stm

Emily’s Subject: http://www.project1231.com/ and http://www.designboom.com/art/1231-the-visible-human-project-as-a-photographic-series/

Meredith’s Subject: http://www.bodyworlds.com/en.html

Group 3

     Hello. Yesterday we talked about the direction of our presentation and when we would meet again in the future to continue preparing for the presentation. We also talked about genetically removing perceived flaws, fears, or other traits that we would be able to and how this could change us. We talked about whether or not this would be a good thing or bad thing. How far is too far when it comes to altering the genetic material of a being?

The New Science Of "Three-Parent" Babies

It's a misnomer, since a "parent" is one thing and a genetic materials donor something else again. But I heard this during my commute to school this morning, it's well worth a listen.

"Day two today of F.D.A. hearings on what you may have seen described in headlines as “three-parent babies.”  The genetic material of three adults combined to make one healthy baby.  Mom’s nuclear D.N.A., dad’s sperm, and mitochondrial D.N.A. from a donor, to avoid inheritable disease.  Backers say this reproductive technology will spare families from passing down suffering.  Maybe extend fertility for older moms.  Critics say this is the gateway to genetically modified human beings, high-tech eugenics, dystopia.  This hour On Point:  science, ethics, reproduction, and D.N.A. times three."

The New Science Of Three-Parent Babies | On Point with Tom Ashbrook

Group 2

We talked about whether research findings should be open to the ordinary folks or if it should be regulated/classified and kept out of the public eye?  Some said that they should keep it secret until it is perfected or more was known on the subject.  Others felt that it would be good for others to be able to see the information (More people working on a problem are better than one).  We also talked about bad people getting ahold of information that they could misuse for devious or malevolent causes.  

Then we talked about consideration for synthetic organisms. First we talked about our definition of consideration.  Recognition of its existence? Rights? Consequences?  We also talked about the possibilities of applying this to artificial life (Artificial Intelligence).  Would sentient, self-aware computers be deserving of full consideration as life?  This brought up Singer's idea of speciesism.  Some of our group thought that artificial life would not be deserving of equal rights or treatment as people.  Others felt that rights would be necessary if the life form was sentient and self aware.  

We then set a meeting time to work on our group project.  We will meet in the library at 6pm on Wednesday the 26th. 

Group 1-Chapter 4 Discussion

We discussed our group report on Thursday and finalized our project plans.

We then discussed whether Marshall's drastic measures were something we would do. Logan did not think it was worth it. The general consensus was that it was not worth it. Evan gave the hypothetical scenario asking if someone would inject themselves with AIDS in order to study the effects. We did not think that was worth the suffering.

Daily Quiz

Feb. 25

1. What was the first successfully decoded genome?

2. What was Venter's new genome sequencing technique named?

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

4. True/False: Gram positive bacteria show up pink/red during a Gram Stain test.

5. What is meant by the term "essential" amino acids?

6. What is a bacteriophage?

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

8. (T/F) Mycoplasma genitalium has the smallest known genome. 

[If your FQs are "NOTED" below but not in the quiz, help yourself to a QR... & as always, take your bases.]








==
1. RNA viral genome-bacteriophage MS2 (pg 48). 2. whole genome shotgun sequencing (pg 53). 3. haemophilus influenzae. 4. False. 5. They cannot be manufactured by cells in the body and must be obtained through diet. 6. A virus that uses bacteria as hosts to replicate. 7. (Fred Sanger) p.48. 8. A: True (P. 54)


ALSO OF NOTE:

What color do gram positive bacteria stain? -Purple

What implications could the creation of human microorganisms present? If humans can create synthetic life does it deserve the same considerations as natural life?

Link
http://www.bioethics.net/2014/02/freedom-for-the-corporation-religious-servitude-for-the-individual/ 


FQ: T/F. Comparative genomics states that evolution tends to use the same structure/sequence over and over again if that structure plays a critical biological function.
(True) p.53

FQ: T/F. Archaea are more closely related to eukaryotes than prokaryotes. 
(True) p.56

FQ: Which two enzymes had a major contribution to deciphering the genetic code?
( Reverse transcriptase and DNA polymerase) p.67

DQ: Do you think major research results should be published openly to the laity or kept under strong surveillance?

DQ#2: Does the creation of synthetic life point to the life's lack of vitalism or to the proof of Spinosa'z God?

link: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/crux/2013/03/08/should-healthy-people-get-their-genomes-sequenced/#.Uwv7pH8g_E4


FQ: What stops the DNA polymerase from adding additional nucleotides to the growing DNA chain?
A: Dideoxynucleotides or terminator nucleotides (P. 48)

FQ: What is the carbon source for every protein and lipid in a Methanococcus cell? This can also be converted to methane to generate cellular energy.
A:Carbon Dioxide (P. 55)

FQ: The structures seen in the meteorite, ALH 84001, from Mars were produced by living nanobacterium. (True/False)
A: False (P. 56-57)

DQ: Are experiments, such as Marshall's experiment of swallowing a solution of Helicobacter pylori, worth risking your life to gain further knowledge of a specific organism?

Link: Can there be gray area between religion, politics, and contraceptive?
http://www.bioethics.net/2014/02/freedom-for-the-corporation-religious-servitude-for-the-individual/

DQ- I would like to discuss with the group if it would be difficult for them to throw caution to the wind as Venter does, uncaring about his reputation? Also, how would it affect them to work with someone with a tarnished reputation and take a huge gamble, much like Hamilton Smith did?

(DQ) What sort of problems could we solve today by creating new microorganisms?

LINK: Venter-
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/sciences-greatest-unsolved-mysteries-creating-life#slide-4

LINK: Sanger's method of DNA sequencing: http://www.dnalc.org/view/15479-Sanger-method-of-DNA-sequencing-3D-animation-with-narration.html

Factual question

Where was Phi X 174  discovered?
pg 63.

Group 2

We started of with talking about our group project.  We had scheduled to meet on Thursday night, but we decided that we could not do that.  We decided we would meet up at another time soon.  From there we went briefly into the ethical obligations of physicians and other health care professionals versus their own personal ethical codes, especially in the case of advising patients on issues they may have personal opinions for or against.
Here is a link I found on the subject that I though was pretty interesting.  It is a debate between two philosophy professors on the subject of personal vs professional ethics:  http://centers.scb.rit.edu/ethics/2011/06/personal-vs-professional-ethics/

Playing Craig

And more... (Laughter is a useful defense mechanism.)
==
ALSO OF NOTE:
The Food and Drug Administration is weighing a controversial fertility procedure that involves combining the genetic material of three people to make a baby free of certain defects, a therapy that critics say is an ethical minefield and could lead to the creation of designer babies... (continues)
==
STANFORD, Calif. — An extremely rare, polio-like disease has appeared in more than a dozen California children within the past year, and each of them suffered paralysis to one or more arms or legs, Stanford University researchers say. But public health officials haven't identified any common causes connecting the cases... (continues)
==

When you have a child off at college, you worry about his general health, state of mind, alcohol use — and, as you sign those tuition checks, academic achievement. But how much thought do you give to your child’s roommate?... (continues)
==
Think too much about your life span and you will never get out of bed in the morning. Once you do, though, all the scientific mysteries of the subject may lie panting on the rug at your feet. Why should your good old faithful dog (avid exerciser, nonsmoker, nondrinker) be condemned to age and die after barely a decade, while you remain firmly in your prime — and the neighbor’s African gray parrot lives loudly on and on?... (continues)

group 3
         
After briefing talking about the medical professionals role in a patients life and if a doctor should be allowed to decline a procedure because of an individual ethical issue, we talked about our midterm project and how and when we wanted to get together for it. we decided that we would have our first meeting on Friday and then get together one more time maybe two until we felt comfortable with our presentation to the class. we also discussed other groups presentations and how we were excited to see them and see what the groups have to say.
-elijah

Venter, Chapter 3 Summary

After discussing ethical issues of health care professionals regarding spiritual matters, we decided to discuss our midterm presentation. We discussed assigning an order for presentees and a day to meet up next week to practice. The rough order we decided on is as follows (subject to modification!):

1. Logan
2. Emily
3. Kat
4. Meredith
5. Evan

We plan on refining our subject matters over the weekend and coming up with a solid order next week.

If anyone would like to coordinate a meet-up time, email me at lms5j@mtmail.mtsu.edu! I would post my number, but I don't who would get a hold of it from the internet.

Daily Quiz

Feb.20

1. (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.

2. What acid is more versatile than DNA in a way that it is both an information carrier and an enzyme?

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

Thanks, Nikita.

Your questions, everybody else? Let's build it together [POSTSCRIPT: please fill in the questions we crowd-sourced in class, I didn't write them down.]

4.

5.

6.

==

1. True.  2. RNA, ribonucleic acid. 3. False. 4. 

ALSO OF NOTE:

DQ: What are your thoughts on dust, considering it is 3/4 dead skin cells that most likely belong to someone else.

["Homo sum, humani nihil a me alienum puto", or "I am a human being, I consider nothing that is human alien to me."]

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSzEjGQ5N1o
A link to a video of protein folding simulation.

Group 1 Discussion Post for Venter Chapters 1-2

So sorry for the delay, everyone! Totally slipped my mind!

Our group discussed our group projects for a while. We will be presenting on scandalous dead bodies and the ethics behind using corpses for entertainment, art, or simply a keepsake.

We then discussed our opinions on artificial life. Kat said she was fine with it as long as it would help society. Dr. Oliver said this was all very dangerous without the researcher being omniscient. We then talked about the ways in which this revolutionary research could have adverse consequences.

I then suggested that not much had happened after Dolly the sheep was cloned, so maybe the creation of artificial life will not have any negative consequences, either. However, we then discussed that there were many things I was not informed on about cloning, and that wealthy people now clone their pets.

We agreed that Venter should try to be protecting of his research and careful of who all learned how to replicate his success. We also agreed that any seemingly beneficial results should be thoroughly studied and completely safe before they are mass distributed due to unknown effects.

Group 3 Discussion

We took the first few minutes to discuss about the group project. Nikita brought up his discussion question that he had posted a few days ago, "Do you think that even with the availability of the best medical treatment, a portion of patient's health is influenced by positive thinking and optimism?" We mostly agreed that optimism can improve ones health, although there are limitations to that. This then led into the debate on whether optimism can come from inheritance or outside influences. As we provided supporting examples for both outlooks, our discussion drifted into the influence of music. There are people that must have music in their lives, people that enjoy it but don't see it as a necessity, and people that simply do not like music. The influence of music cannot be accurately quantified since the amount of influence vary depending on the individual.