Ethics

What do you know?

Here are some questions to answer before reading further

  1. What is "ethics"?
  2. As you have learned different subjects in school (math, writing, science, etc.) have you ever been asked if the skills you learned (addition, persuasive essay writing, how to extract DNA) is ethical, or related to ethics?

Pre-Lecture Vocabulary:

Find definitions for the following terms. Please attempt to state the definitions in your own words:

  1. Ethics
  2. Informed consent
  3. Institutional Review Board
  4. Genetic counseling
  5. GINA (Genetics Information Nondiscrimination Act)
  6. Eugenics

Lecture:

This lecture is a powerful one, and although I have a lot to say, I am not recording a video for this lecture. Instead, I'd like you to spend a few minutes listening to the following stories and forming your own opinions. We will discuss in class.

Post-lecture Short Essay:

Based on the information in the podcasts, and information you can find online (from your vocabulary search, and the resource links below), compose a short essay answer (250 words or less) in response to the following statement:

An individual has the absolute right to keep their DNA information private.

Form an opinion (for or against this statement), and develop 2-3 reasons to defend your position. Thinking of this exercise as a hypothetical debate, there is no expectation that the position you choose to argue for in your debate is your personal opinion. You may (and are encouraged to) choose a position that is the opposite of your own personal opinion. This is a chance to explore a view alternative to your own. See Dennett's rules for critical commentary

Resource Links Additional resources you may wish to consider (helpful but not mandatory)

  • The Tech Museum page on DNA ethics: Ethics
  • Rebecca Skloot, author of "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks: homepage
  • Genetics education fact sheet: PDF Download