Bio Homework Lab
One paragraph per discussion topic
Discussion 1: GMOs
Some have suggested that GMOs will be necessary to feed the growing population. Are you pro or against GMO? Look for some examples of GMO food that are currently available to the public. If you can find supporting articles for the pro or con on GMOs feel free to post them to support your opinion. One problem many have with GMOs is that we don’t know if they are fully safe for human consumption. What reassurances do you need to feel safe eating GMO food? Do you think there are long term effects that we don’t know yet about GMOs? We will discuss how they are made when we hit the Biotech lecture. Have fun with this topic and search the web for examples.
Discussion 2: Designer babies
We now live in exciting times when it comes to what scientists know and are able to do in molecular biology. We will go over genetic engineering and GMOs in the biotech lecture. If you follow the news you have probably seen some stories about scientists are now able to edit the genomes of embryos. The goal is to eliminate genetic diseases and potentially make designer babies. A group in China has already done this. Watch the video on the link below. It is one of my favorite videos and I have all my classes watch it. You will then get sucked in and start watching other videos this group produces, as you have already watched two of them for another post.
Here is the link: https://youtu.be/jAhjPd4uNFY
Now for the fun part. Do you think that we should edit the human genome to eliminate genetic diseases? What did you think of some of the topics presented? Genetic engineering and ethics is a hot topic right now. You can be either pro or con, but I want to hear your opinion. The video gives various things that could happen from gene editing. You can also do a simple Internet search to find articles about crispr and how it the new “hot” method in molecular biology. Feel free to find articles that support your opinion and post the links. This can be an uncomfortable topic, but it is one that will be gaining more attention in the near future.
Discussion 3: Super Bugs
Here is the link:
You can also visit the CDC site below for links to more information.
https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/index.html
From the above information you should be concerned about the emergence of these superbugs. It seems that we are so dependent on antibiotics for so many things that we are promoting their evolution. These days some kids seem to be kept in a bubble because the parents fear what their surroundings may do them. I don’t have kids (just my yorkie furchild), but when I would baby sit my nephews they just wanted to put anything and everything in their mouths. This is essential so we can build up our immune system. I seriously saw specific wipes to clean off pacifiers. My parents would just wipe off the dirt and give it back when I was a kid. Just a small rant. I am all for keeping yourself healthy, but still have fun in life.
We know the superbugs are here and they will continue to evolve. What can we do to slow this down and possibly end it? Do we need to reduce our dependence on antibiotics? You see antimicrobial/antibacterial everything all over the place. I am sure most of you have hand sanitizer in your bag. Do you think our germophobe movement had something to do with this? Give some ideas/personal observations that might have led to the evolution of superbugs. Feel free to find articles that discuss superbug cases and post the links. You can be pro or con. Everyone is welcome to their own views on this topic. I will throw out there as an optional side topic is the whole debate on vaccines. That links back to the superbugs too. Have fun with this topic.
Discussion 4:
Sticking with genetic engineering once again. The first video introduces the topic how scientists are using modern technology with stem cell biology to generate organs. The second video is a little more far fetched and talks about making human/pig chimeras. You might have no idea what that is, so go watch and learn about some of the cutting edge research out there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRHxX9OW9ow&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCM3UpkRms8&feature=youtu.be
Now that you are a little more informed about the topic how do you feel about it? The demand for organs is not going away and I presented some options. Do you think that the general public would be for this? I will admit that I am addicted to all the medical dramas on TV and there was one episode where a patient was refusing a valve that was from either a pig or cow to fix their heart. Have fun with this one.
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