Hen's Social Studies Portfolio

Reflection on Research Paper

1) Standard Met:
» Writing - 1.1.6: Develop presentations by using clear research questions and creative and critical research strategies (e.g., field studies, oral histories, interviews, experiments, electronic sources).

2) Objective:
» To present both sides of a controversial topic that is happening today.

3) Steps Taken:
» Choose a topic and research it through the internet or library.
» Pick strong arguments from both sides of the topic and put them together to form an essay.

4) Writing Prompt:
» Choose a controversial topic that is happening today and write an essay presenting arguments from both sides.

5) Conclusion:
» What did you learn? I learned a little about the process of genetic engineering. I also learned how to search for facts on the internet and to find reliable sources.

» What did you think? After reading about it I think theraputic cloning might be ok. It seems like it woud help a lot of people and I don't really believe life starts at conception. I think it would be better to concentrait on the living instead of the human-to-some-but-not-to-others.

Genetic Engineering

Genetic engineering is a big issue today. Genetic engineering can be a wide range of things. It covers stem cell research, cloning, therapeutic cloning as well as genetically modified food such as seedless grapes. Cloning is when a scientist replaces the DNA in an embryo with the DNA of a living person. The embryo is then implanted into a women’s womb where it would then develop into a human baby that would be genetically the same as the DNA donor (Religious Tolerance - Therapeutic Cloning). Therapeutic cloning is where instead of creating an entire child, the embryo is allowed to grow for about 14 days and then stem cells would be taken from it, thus destroying, or “killing” the embryo (Religious Tolerance - Therapeutic Cloning). The stem cells would then be coaxed into growing into other cells that can grow into tissues or organs for people who need them. For example, if someone needed a new liver then instead of waiting for a donor, doctors will be able to have an embryo grow into a liver for the patient. Genetically modified food is where the food has been changed so that grows a certain color, without seeds, or so that it grows much faster then it would naturally. As technology gets more and more advance people start to wonder if we’re going too far and when should we stop. Religion and morals plays into this as well. Does life start at conception? Is it ok for man to play God?

Stem cell research and therapeutic cloning can help a lot of people. Patients won’t have to wait for organ donors to die in order to get their organ. Instead an organ will be able to be grown for them using their DNA and an embryo. Since it uses the patient’s own DNA, there’s virtually no chance that the patient’s body will reject the organ (Religious Tolerance - Therapeutic Cloning). Also the patient won’t be getting a used organ that may not function properly for long, instead they’ll get a new, unused one (Religious Tolerance - Therapeutic Cloning). Not only that, but people who are donating organs that they have two of, such as a lung, won’t have to go through the pain or potential shortening of life because now they’ll be able to, in some sense, “grow organs”. Also, because stem cells can grow into just about any type of cell, it offers many possibilities of helping to cure diseases such as diabetes or Parkinson’s disease as well as many others. This will help millions of people life longer and healthier (Religious Tolerance - Therapeutic Cloning).

Although stem cell research and therapeutic cloning looks promising, a lot of people still oppose it. Therapeutic cloning is still in its early stages. We cannot be certain that any product from it will function the way we intend it to. We do not know if it will help or harm the patient. Also, many people believe that life starts at conception, so by growing embryos just so we can take its stem cells, therefore killing it, would be immoral. Many people believe that an embryo is a person and by killing it to save another would be murder and “can never be justified” (Religious Tolerance - Therapeutic Cloning).

While a lot of people believe that an embryo is person, there are just as many who believe that it isn’t. “We must appreciate that the moral status of the embryo is distinct from that of the fetus. In the United Kingdom, the embryo is not recognized as having any rights at law until the fourteenth day after creation, when the ‘primitive streak’ becomes visible...The accepted test for clinical death is an absence of brain stem activity. Yet the fetus first acquires a functioning brain six weeks after the embryo has been created. (IDEA: Stem Cell Research / Therapeutic Cloning)” So some say that an embryo isn’t counted as a person until it develops a brain or some sort of human characteristic so if it’s destroyed before then, it’s not counted as murder. Also, many people believe that life starts at birth so even if the embryo has started to develop human characteristics, it still wouldn’t be counted as a person. Not only that, but an embryo can’t be regarded as a human being because there is the chance that it will never develop into one and that if we were count an embryo as human then we would have to regard every egg and sperm as human too. “Between fifty and seventy per cent of embryos are lost naturally through failing to implant in the wall of the uterus. The potential of an embryo to develop does not itself make it human. (IDEA: Stem Cell Research / Therapeutic Cloning)”

It is argued that just because there’s the chance that it won’t develop into a human doesn’t mean we shouldn’t treat it as one. The difference between an embryo and a sperm or egg is that an embryo has the potential to grow into a living human being while a single sperm or egg does not. “The proper test of humanity should concern whether the embryo has the potential to organize itself into a ‘living human whole’. Every embryo has this capacity. The sperm and the ovum do not have the potential of self-organization...The fact that embryos are lost naturally does not imply that is morally appropriate for scientists to destroy embryos. As Paul Ramsey has stated, man has no right per se to mimic the actions of nature. For example, the possibility that a rock might fall naturally and hit my friend, does not mean I have a right to throw a rock and hit my friend. (IDEA: Stem Cell Research / Therapeutic Cloning)” Man should not play God. It isn’t for us to decide what is human and what isn’t and what is ok to kill and what isn’t.

I think that stem cell research, and perhaps one day therapeutic cloning, should be allowed because it’s going to help a lot of people. More and more people are being diagnosed with diseases everyday and this technology can help them. Also, I think that we should be more concerned about the people who are here with us now then the embryos that might one day develop into a person. If the embryo never develops into anything, then not only one but two lives are wasted plus the embryo will never know that it lived since it will most likely never develop a brain. The person suffering will not only know, but will have felt as well.

Since Dolly the sheep was born, cloning the first human has been a big issue. Cloning a human would be a huge technological advancement. This can help us towards learning the origin of life or help crack the genetic code. Such research can also give us give insight into preventing numerous diseases which will help a lot of people in the long run. It can also help scientist learn how to reverse the aging process and can help us find the Fountain of Youth. (HumanCloning.Org). It can also help infertile couples have a child. “Women who are involuntarily childless tend to exhibit more long-lasting symptoms of distress than other women. (HumanCloning.Org)” Some couple will see this as their last chance to have a child. Cloning can also help save endangered animals. We would simple be able to clone them and insure that they never go extinct. (HumanCloning.Org). Also, it appears that some believe that raising a clone will make them better parents because they will already know all the strengths and weaknesses of the child and will have a “head start on the needs and talents of [their] child. (HumanCloning.Org)”

However, cloning is very controversial and many feel that gaining knowledge isn’t worth it. Many people will sympathize with the cloned child before awing at the fact that scientists have cracked the genetic code. Think of what the resultant child’s life will be like. Will it be expected to be exactly like the person it was cloned from? The child might suffer from a lack of individuality because he or she is, after all, only a copy of someone else. There is also the chance that it will produce “severe genetic defects” (Human Reproductive and Therapeutic Cloning). We won’t know that there are no serious defects or illnesses in the clone until later in his or her life and by then it will be too late to help him or her. Also clones are “derived from an existing adult cell, it has older genes (The Cloning Debate: Con Views)” so there is the chance that his or her life will be shorter. Not only that but cloning is a very complicated procedure. It took “Ian Wilmut and his associates required 277 tries before producing Dolly.” (The Cloning Debate: Con Views) That’s like trying to give birth to 277 children before have one healthy one.



	Reflection on Research Paper 1) Standard Met: » Writing - 1.1.6: Develop presentations by using clear research questions and creative and critical research strategies (e.g., field studies, oral histories, interviews, experiments, electronic sources). 2) Objective: » To present both sides of a controversial topic that is happening today. 3) Steps Taken: » Choose a topic and research it through the internet or library. » Pick strong arguments from both sides of the topic and put them together to form an essay. 4) Writing Prompt: » Choose a controversial topic that is happening today and write an essay presenting arguments from both sides. 5) Conclusion: » What did you learn? I learned a little about the process of genetic engineering. I also learned how to search for facts on the internet and to find reliable sources. » What did you think? After reading about it I think theraputic cloning might be ok. It seems like it woud help a lot of people and I don't really believe life starts at conception. I think it would be better to concentrait on the living instead of the human-to-some-but-not-to-others. Genetic Engineering Genetic engineering is a big issue today. Genetic engineering can be a wide range of things. It covers stem cell research, cloning, therapeutic cloning as well as genetically modified food such as seedless grapes. Cloning is when a scientist replaces the DNA in an embryo with the DNA of a living person. The embryo is then implanted into a women’s womb where it would then develop into a human baby that would be genetically the same as the DNA donor (Religious Tolerance - Therapeutic Cloning). Therapeutic cloning is where instead of creating an entire child, the embryo is allowed to grow for about 14 days and then stem cells would be taken from it, thus destroying, or “killing” the embryo (Religious Tolerance - Therapeutic Cloning). The stem cells would then be coaxed into growing into other cells that can grow into tissues or organs for people who need them. For example, if someone needed a new liver then instead of waiting for a donor, doctors will be able to have an embryo grow into a liver for the patient. Genetically modified food is where the food has been changed so that grows a certain color, without seeds, or so that it grows much faster then it would naturally. As technology gets more and more advance people start to wonder if we’re going too far and when should we stop. Religion and morals plays into this as well. Does life start at conception? Is it ok for man to play God? Stem cell research and therapeutic cloning can help a lot of people. Patients won’t have to wait for organ donors to die in order to get their organ. Instead an organ will be able to be grown for them using their DNA and an embryo. Since it uses the patient’s own DNA, there’s virtually no chance that the patient’s body will reject the organ (Religious Tolerance - Therapeutic Cloning). Also the patient won’t be getting a used organ that may not function properly for long, instead they’ll get a new, unused one (Religious Tolerance - Therapeutic Cloning). Not only that, but people who are donating organs that they have two of, such as a lung, won’t have to go through the pain or potential shortening of life because now they’ll be able to, in some sense, “grow organs”. Also, because stem cells can grow into just about any type of cell, it offers many possibilities of helping to cure diseases such as diabetes or Parkinson’s disease as well as many others. This will help millions of people life longer and healthier (Religious Tolerance - Therapeutic Cloning). Although stem cell research and therapeutic cloning looks promising, a lot of people still oppose it. Therapeutic cloning is still in its early stages. We cannot be certain that any product from it will function the way we intend it to. We do not know if it will help or harm the patient. Also, many people believe that life starts at conception, so by growing embryos just so we can take its stem cells, therefore killing it, would be immoral. Many people believe that an embryo is a person and by killing it to save another would be murder and “can never be justified” (Religious Tolerance - Therapeutic Cloning). While a lot of people believe that an embryo is person, there are just as many who believe that it isn’t. “We must appreciate that the moral status of the embryo is distinct from that of the fetus. In the United Kingdom, the embryo is not recognized as having any rights at law until the fourteenth day after creation, when the ‘primitive streak’ becomes visible...The accepted test for clinical death is an absence of brain stem activity. Yet the fetus first acquires a functioning brain six weeks after the embryo has been created. (IDEA: Stem Cell Research / Therapeutic Cloning)” So some say that an embryo isn’t counted as a person until it develops a brain or some sort of human characteristic so if it’s destroyed before then, it’s not counted as murder. Also, many people believe that life starts at birth so even if the embryo has started to develop human characteristics, it still wouldn’t be counted as a person. Not only that, but an embryo can’t be regarded as a human being because there is the chance that it will never develop into one and that if we were count an embryo as human then we would have to regard every egg and sperm as human too. “Between fifty and seventy per cent of embryos are lost naturally through failing to implant in the wall of the uterus. The potential of an embryo to develop does not itself make it human. (IDEA: Stem Cell Research / Therapeutic Cloning)” It is argued that just because there’s the chance that it won’t develop into a human doesn’t mean we shouldn’t treat it as one. The difference between an embryo and a sperm or egg is that an embryo has the potential to grow into a living human being while a single sperm or egg does not. “The proper test of humanity should concern whether the embryo has the potential to organize itself into a ‘living human whole’. Every embryo has this capacity. The sperm and the ovum do not have the potential of self-organization...The fact that embryos are lost naturally does not imply that is morally appropriate for scientists to destroy embryos. As Paul Ramsey has stated, man has no right per se to mimic the actions of nature. For example, the possibility that a rock might fall naturally and hit my friend, does not mean I have a right to throw a rock and hit my friend. (IDEA: Stem Cell Research / Therapeutic Cloning)” Man should not play God. It isn’t for us to decide what is human and what isn’t and what is ok to kill and what isn’t. I think that stem cell research, and perhaps one day therapeutic cloning, should be allowed because it’s going to help a lot of people. More and more people are being diagnosed with diseases everyday and this technology can help them. Also, I think that we should be more concerned about the people who are here with us now then the embryos that might one day develop into a person. If the embryo never develops into anything, then not only one but two lives are wasted plus the embryo will never know that it lived since it will most likely never develop a brain. The person suffering will not only know, but will have felt as well. Since Dolly the sheep was born, cloning the first human has been a big issue. Cloning a human would be a huge technological advancement. This can help us towards learning the origin of life or help crack the genetic code. Such research can also give us give insight into preventing numerous diseases which will help a lot of people in the long run. It can also help scientist learn how to reverse the aging process and can help us find the Fountain of Youth. (HumanCloning.Org). It can also help infertile couples have a child. “Women who are involuntarily childless tend to exhibit more long-lasting symptoms of distress than other women. (HumanCloning.Org)” Some couple will see this as their last chance to have a child. Cloning can also help save endangered animals. We would simple be able to clone them and insure that they never go extinct. (HumanCloning.Org). Also, it appears that some believe that raising a clone will make them better parents because they will already know all the strengths and weaknesses of the child and will have a “head start on the needs and talents of [their] child. (HumanCloning.Org)” However, cloning is very controversial and many feel that gaining knowledge isn’t worth it. Many people will sympathize with the cloned child before awing at the fact that scientists have cracked the genetic code. Think of what the resultant child’s life will be like. Will it be expected to be exactly like the person it was cloned from? The child might suffer from a lack of individuality because he or she is, after all, only a copy of someone else. There is also the chance that it will produce “severe genetic defects” (Human Reproductive and Therapeutic Cloning). We won’t know that there are no serious defects or illnesses in the clone until later in his or her life and by then it will be too late to help him or her. Also clones are “derived from an existing adult cell, it has older genes (The Cloning Debate: Con Views)” so there is the chance that his or her life will be shorter. Not only that but cloning is a very complicated procedure. It took “Ian Wilmut and his associates required 277 tries before producing Dolly.” (The Cloning Debate: Con Views) That’s like trying to give birth to 277 children before have one healthy one.