Abstract This paper discusses the controversial issue of stem cell research in the U.S. It conveys the negativity of using human embryos, but also expresses the positive uses of adult stem cells. The author includes remarks made by President George W. Bush, numerous quotes and reference pages and websites.
From the Paper "The issue of using stem cells (embryonic and adult) is a heated debate among many citizens of the United States. Many people are against all types of research, but do not understand what it is about or what the research can be used for. There are many points that need to be made so people will know that not all stem cell research is harmful, or destroys human life. Embryonic stem cell research can be, and should be avoided, especially when there are other options available to us. Adult stem cell research is an available option that is being used in all parts of the world to find new discoveries. Once society agrees to certain forms of research, scientists may be able to use the research to obtain cures for numerous diseases."
Abstract This essay looks at how Mary Shelley's " Frankenstein" is a story that is the possible precursor of a modern cloning experiment gone bad. The author discusses the ethical problems related to human cloning, and how the monster created by Dr. Frankenstein serves as a warning against mankind's efforts to interfere with nature.
From the Paper "The story of Dr. Frankenstein and his unfortunate monster illustrates how much havoc could be wreaked on society by anyone person who attempts to "play God". In the nineteenth century, there was a far greater belief that the creation of life was the province of God alone. Now technologically advanced science is a multi-billion dollar industry and the progress of genetics in the last decade is far outpacing the legislation that society has to monitor its application. Even in 1818, Mary Shelley raises the idea that we, as a society, were in grave danger of becoming far cleverer and more scientifically able than we were wise. It is for these reasons that Mary Shelley makes some of Dr. Frankenstein last words, in Chapter XIII, read like a terrible warning to mankind, one that stands against cloning today: ?Man," I cried, "how ignorant art thou in thy pride of wisdom! Cease; you know not what it is you say."
Abstract The paper recounts the history, spread and current epidemiology of Trypanosomiasis, commonly known as African sleeping sickness. It also recounts the causes of the disease, especially as they are rooted in the host-parasite relationship. It presents charts which show the life cycle of the pest and what measures are being taken to combat this disease.
From the Paper "Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), commonly referred to as the African sleeping sickness, is a serious parasitic disease endemic throughout most of Sub-Saharan Africa. The causative agents of HAT, parasites of the genus Trypanosoma, are characterized by a complex life cycle that involves a mammalian host (humans) and an insect vector (tsetse fly). In the course of evolution, trypanosomes have become adapted to take advantage of both of these organisms and initially it may even seem that the parasite has evolved simply to maximize its reproductive success within these organisms. In reality, however, host-parasite interactions in HAT can be more accurately described as a balance between the within-host selection and between-host selection (the pressure to facilitate horizontal transmission), leaning toward the latter. Thus, HAT illustrates the intricacies inherent in the host-parasite interactions, as well as how these complexities continue to frustrate the efforts to treat this communicable disease."
Abstract This paper presents arguments for and against genetically altered plants. Those for the idea list benefits such as plants being stronger and less prone to insects, while those against say that the plants would taste worse and might be more prone to giving off allergens. It also looks at current trends in this practice and legislation governing it.
From the Paper "The issue of whether we should allow genetically altered plants to be cultivated in the United States has been in the news lately. As with most controversial ideas, there are two sides.
"Proponents of the idea see several good reasons for proceeding with such projects. According to Hopkin (2001), one goal would be to breed plants more resistant to insects. This would reduce the need to use toxic chemicals to control those pests. Researchers would insert only a few select genes. They point out that with cross-pollination, the old-fashioned way of creating new strains, thousands of new genes are introduced to a plant at once. They believe the level of control would both aid research and promote safety."
Abstract The landmark cases associated with Evolution and Creationism are discussed in this paper, as well as the stance taken by highly recognized scientific bodies of educators. The paper presents a summary of several state and national curriculum standards concerning this topic.
From the Paper "Controversy concerning Evolution began several centuries before the well known theories of Natural Selection and Survival of the Fittest was published. These theories were presented in 1859, by Charles Darwin, through his book The Origin of Species. Darwin did not propose the concept of evolution, he merely presented his theories of Natural Selection and Survival of the Fittest to gain support as evidences for evolution. Darwin is often thought of in many scientific communities as the father of evolution. This may be because his book, The Origin of Species, was the first published book that was used to support the theory of evolution through Natural Selection. However, Darwin was not the first evolutionary theorist. But his publication did lead to many misconceptions among the uneducated and religious organizations."
Tags: controversial, darwin, education, law, legal, Darwin, Origin, species
Abstract The writer defines what gene therapy is - whereby cells are provided with new genetic material. It lists its advantages in the medical field especially in the treatment of cancer. The paper discusses the two main forms of gene therapy - in vivo and in vitro and looks at how the therapy is performed.
From the Paper "One of the most important applications for gene therapy is as a potential cure for cancer. Cancer is a disease that occurs at the genetic level, with damaged genes being the cause of cancer. With genes being the cause of cancer, gene therapy is the most direct treatment approach. It gets to the base of the problem. Gene therapy is the process of providing cells with new genetic material. Cells can be provided with healthy copies of genes or the part of the gene that is damaged, or cancer cells can be delivered new genetic material that will allow them to be destroyed. There are two forms of gene therapy, in vitro and in vivo. The most common form is in vitro, which is where the targets cells are removed from the patient and then reinfused (Lewis, Heitkemper & Dirksen, 2000)."
Abstract The Ginkgo Biloba tree is the oldest tree species known to man with fossil records date back to when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Today, the extract of the dried leaves is popular for use as a dietary supplement for the brain and heart. Ginkgo extract is thought to improve blood circulation and memory and prevent blood clotting. The leaves are also used as tea to soothe a variety of ailments. This paper gives a brief historical description including the characteristics of the Ginkgo tree that will detail the Ginkgo tree and its importance in today's society.
From the Paper "The Ginkgo tree is unique in many ways. It is so different from any other living tree that it must be classified in a separate order. The Ginkgo biloba probably no longer exists in a truly wild state. It has been found growing freely over some ten square miles near Changhua Hsien in the Chekiang province of China, but it is uncertain whether these trees are the remains of an ancient forest or not. It is a sacred tree in the Far East, where it is commonly planted in the grounds of temples and palaces. In some of the grounds of the temples there are specimens that are said to be over 1,000 years old. It's preservation in China, Korea, Manchuria, and Japan is probably due to the interest taken in it by the Buddhist priests whose interest in the tree saved it from becoming extinct."
Abstract The paper discusses the two topics of debate which have sprung up since mammalian cloning made headlines - whether cloning is ethically correct, and whether it can become a profitable business. The paper shows how the two sets of questions have in the intervening five years become more and more tightly bound together, especially as the process of mammalian cloning has proved to be more technically difficult than once assumed. Faced with scores of maimed and partial individuals preceding each healthy clone, many scientists and many of those outside the scientific community have spent a great deal of time wondering whether it is ethical to go forward with such research ? aside from the practical questions of whether cloning could ever become economically viable.
From the Paper "Even those who wholeheartedly support cloning are in general morally opposed to the cloning of entire human individuals. Such an action is seen to violate some of our most deeply held beliefs about the sacredness and uniqueness of the individual. As a result, most cloning research today is focused on creating and then harvesting stem cells that might then be induced to grow into what are essentially spare parts. Thus a person who is blind might have new corneas grown for him while the diabetic might have a new pancreas grown for her."
Abstract This paper examines Trisomy 21 through case studies of the developmental disorder. It describes the typical Downs syndrome child, the discovery of the genetic birth defect, its physical appearances and the effects on the family.
Table of Contents:
John Langdon Down
What is Downs Syndrome?
Effects of the Family with Downs Syndrome
Physical Development
Learning and behavior
Motor Skills
Language Development
References
From the Paper "Down's Syndrome is a genetic condition, caused by a failure in the cell division process. The majority of affected children have a third copy of chromosome 21 in all their cells, instead of the usual two, and this results in the baby having 47 chromosomes instead of 46. In medical literature, Down's Syndrome is often referred to as trisomy 21 for this reason. While the condition has been recognized since the middle of the 19th century, its genetic basis was not discovered until 1959, when professor Jerome Lejeune, in Paris, first identified the characteristic combination of chromosomes."
Abstract This paper describes the dangers of Anthrax as a weapon in chemical / biological warfare. The paper outlines different types of Anthrax and discusses the long term effects it could have in a war of bioterroism. The writer explains the different ways Anthrax enters and affects the body. The writer provides a brief history on bioterrorism and concludes the paper with assurances that bills have been passed allowing the U.S. government to spend billions on anti-bioterrorism.
From the Paper "Bioterrorism is known to have been in effect as early as 6th century B. C. when the Assyrians attempted to poison the wells of their enemies using a substance known as "rye ergot" (History of Bioterrorism, PG, 2002). Throughout the years bioterrorism has been a constant threat, as armies have been known to hurl the bodies of diseased soldiers into enemy camps. Feces and even infected fleas have been used to spread plague and malaria into enemy quarters. As early as 1763 Native Americans were given blankets and cloths that had been infected with smallpox (History of Bioterrorism, PG, 2002)."
Tags: biological, cutaneous, deadly, gastrointestinal, inhalational, terrorists, widespread, warfare, terror
Abstract An argumentative paper about the negative side of IVF. The writer claims that the IVF process entails killing off too many embryos to justify the low success rate that the process produces. This paper gives a summary of the process and explains why the line needs to be drawn between aiming to get a woman pregnant and disposing of the unsuccessful embryos.
From the Paper "Scientist has discovered a process that enables couples that are infertile to bare children. This process is called in vitro fertilization. Some say that in vitro fertilization is a life-giving miracle that gives two individuals the opportunity to bring a life into the world; however, others say that it is playing God. Although in vitro fertilization appears to be a blessing for couples that are unable to have children, it is nothing more than infanticide in disguise."
From the Paper "Human genetic modification has been discussed for decades, but now that it is becoming a process that could be undertaken rather than a mere speculation, a number of fears have emerged, leading to efforts to curtail further research in this area. There are a number of reasons why this fear has developed, and these fears were actually manifested long before genetic engineering was possible. They can be seen in ancient stories about human beings creating life in unnatural ways, from the ancient story of the Golem to the novel Frankenstein by Mary W. Shelley from early in the nineteenth century. The essential fear involved is the fear of anything considered unnatural, as if this were an action taken against the will of God. More recently, these fears have taken the form of ethical concerns about how new technologies might be used to curtail further the..."
Abstract This paper states that about 20 million animals are cruelly killed per year for product testing. The author feels that alternative means of testing can be used.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Death and Injury Rate
Drug Testing
Horror in the Lab
Tests Performed
Alternatives
Conclusion
From the Paper "It's hard to imagine the cruelty some animals are subjected to during experimentation. Last year, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a researcher was videotaped ?using scissors to cut the heads off conscious, unanaesthetized animals before removing their brains (Heyde, 2002).? The researcher admitted doing it for convenience, though it violated university protocol."
Abstract This paper examines the multitude of issues related to crime and more specifically, the fundamental relationship between genetics and crime. It evaluates the three distinct methodologies (adoption studies, family studies, and twin studies) that are used to discover the correlation between genetic influences on antisocial and criminal behavior. It also reviews different twin studies and their correlation to antisocial and criminal behavior. It concludes with recommendations for finding solutions to the crime problem.
From the Paper "Few issues are as controversial and difficult to resolve as crime. Over the past 20-25 years, public concern over certain aspects of the crime problem has intensified. In particular, law enforcement and the public have focused on the challenge of supervising parolees and probationers in the community, juvenile crime, the role of television in producing violence, and urban gangs. Researchers have found a causal relationship exists between crime and such traits as: age; economic status; education level; environmental factors; ethnicity; gender; genetics; intelligence (or lack thereof); psychological factors; race; sex; sociological factors; etc."
Tags: criminal, behavior, dizygotic, twins, monozygotic, genetic, etiology, law
Abstract This paper debates which is better, nature or nurture, in light of the recent advances in bio-medicinal aspects of the human genome which means the possibility of treating illnesses such as cancer, congenital hearing loss and tumors through modification of abnormal cell function either through transfer of functioning genes or gene therapy. It discusses how recent research does prove that the genetic or impact of "nature" on human physiology and behaviour is very strong but also puts forward the 'nurture' point of view that the "nurture" theory that suggests that genetics can only determine characteristics and intelligence but not social environment, which does play an important role in developing learned behavior.
From the Paper "Advocates of the "nurture" theory emphasize on the important role played by acquired and learned behavior from the environment. In support of this theory are several experiments such as Marler's work on the development of bird song, which showed that within the same species of white crowned sparrows, there are regional variations in bird song (Halliday & Slater, 1983). Though most of the experiments, including the work done by Garcia & Koelling (1966) on "taste aversion learning" and the Wells experiments on sepia attack behavior, do establish that behavior can be learned, they also failed to conclusively establish that any rein forcer is equally effective in increasing the frequency of response (University of Plymouth Online)."
