Ethical Issues in Genetics in the Next 100 Years

This article is saying that in 100 years we humans will expierence more dramtical change in genes and we may have a saying whether someone would want a boy or girl as their child. Scientist say this might be true because we are so advance in the study of genetics, and that only time will tell when we would able to choose our genetics. This article is also saying that we might be able to cure all different types of diseases or even cure cancer due to genetically modifying our genes.


Question:
Do you think we will be able to cure every disease in the world with a simple genetic modification?


-Alex Sykulski

Bioethics Professors Challenge Bachmann's HPV Claims

Michele Bachmann, a congresswoman and presidential contender from Minnesota, said that the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is too dangerous for girls to receive. She explained that once her daughter took the vaccine, she contracted mental retardation. Many are encouraging her to provide proof of this situation. Even two bioethics professors are willing to pay $10,000 for the medical evidence to prove that this is true.

How can a lady in such high politics think that she could get away with saying that because of a vaccine to prevent a disease, made her child contract another that can only be contracted through birth, and what was she thinking or wanting out of this?

Gene Therapy Ethics

Summary:

Gene therapy is the name given for when normal or genetically altered genes replace a person’s malfunctioning genes. Although it is still in the years of its infancy, people are beginning to question whether gene therapy is moral/ethical. There are many who are worried about parents genetically altering a babies genes’ even before the baby is born. This forces the rest of society to question if genetically changing the structure of humans is, to simplify it, good or bad for the good of mankind.

Questions posed:

If we alter and change the genes in our children to fit our desires, are we still going to love our children for who they are or for what they are doing? Say that these new alterations of the genes have become reality-will they ultimately destroy our morals and values?

Answer to Neo's question:

In today's world, people want to live longer, healthier, and disease-free lives. Due to this fact, doctors are always trying to find new cures and delays for diseases. They want to see the people happy and enjoying their life. To get to this goal they will go to extreme lengths to try to find a cure for humans, even if it means paying for already sick human beings to try new drugs. Doctors pay people to try these new drugs and vaccines because they will get to see the effects of this drug on humans, not animals.

"Italian court rules couple “too old” for daughter" by Jared Yee

Italian couple, Luigi (70) and Gabriella (57) were rejected to adopt because they were "too old." In response, they conceived now 18-month-old Viola using artificial insemination (the process by which sperm is placed into the reproductive tract of a female and impregnating her for means other than sexual intercourse). They had a "narcissistic need to have a child," and now a court in Italy recommends she is to be put up for adoption.

Question: Is it right to demand adoption for the couple? Is it okay to go through the process of artificial insemination for the couple's purpose, regarding their age?


- Ashlee Mercado

Should Sick People Be Paid to Risk Their Lives?

This article talks about the idea of paying patients to become a test subject for a new drug. It talks about the justifications about paying money for patients to risk using a new drug. It talks about the paradox that if a effective drug is already available, patients will have little reason to volunteer for tests of drugs that could be better. A good example they use is HIV. If there is a medicine that can make people live on for decades, why should they experiment with a new drug?

Question: Why would a doctor pay someone money to try a new drug, if there is already a good drug that can cure them already?

Neo Kim

Designer Babies?

Is it an acceptable use of technology to choose babies based on potential health concerns?  Is it an acceptable use of technology to choose babies based on physical appearance? Do you wish that your parents had changed a trait of yours--either eliminating something that's been difficult or given you some subtle advantage that you don't have? Do think it's a loving decision or a "messed up" decision to have a second (or third or fourth) child to help with the health problems of an earlier child?

Definition of human being

In class on Wednesday, you began discussing with your partner what it means to be human.  As a base line for our discussions this year, post a working definition of what it means to be human. A definition is both concise and precise. Post your definition as a comment to this post.  While I'll usually ask you to respond to others' posts, for this first post, simply share your ideas with the class.  This is due by 8AM on Friday.