Biology Discussion

The Discussions are not simply statements of opinion. They are intended to allow you to expand on and apply the principles discussed in your textbook, the lectures, and/or other research you conduct. Each week a question will be posed for your consideration. Before answering, you should review the chapters covered during this week and the lectures.

With recent advances in technology, scientists are able to manipulate and alter genes in different organisms. This is obviously a very controversial and somewhat ethical issue. However, the advances continue, many of which go unseen or unnoticed by the public. Do you know how many of the foods that you eat that have been genetically altered? Do you know where or how animals have been genetically altered to benefit mankind? We will explore three separate issues in this discussion that deal with organisms which have been genetically altered and/or modified.

For this week’s discussion, please pick one of the topics below to discuss. It should be at least 250 words. This MUST be in your own words. Do NOT copy and paste from the Internet. You MAY use quotes from a source, but those quotes will NOT count towards your 250 word count requirement. Please do not plagiarize. If you use a quote, you MUST put quotation marks around it AND you MUST cite the source at the end of your post. It is NOT simply enough to put a source at the end. You should also include at least one reference in your post. Do NOT use Wikipedia as a source.

These posts should be at least 100 words and be substantive in nature. While pleasantries such as “I agree” or “great job” are nice, they will not count as one of your required posts.

 Choose one of the following topics for your initial discussion post. 

1. Genetically modified organisms – Research various agricultural products currently on the market which have been genetically modified. Pick one to investigate further addressing the following questions/issues: What specifically has been modified with the product? How long has it been on the market? How much of the total genome has been modified? In general, is this product safe? Is there anyway to know if you are eating this product versus the “normal” version? Should consumers be told they are consuming a genetically modified product? What do you think personally about these types of products? Would your position change if you were a vegetarian or an organic gardener, or the owner of a major food chain? List at least one source from your research.
2. Transgenic Animals –Research various transgenic animals. Pick one to investigate further addressing the following questions/issues: What is a transgenic animal? Which method was used to insert the foreign DNA? For what purpose was this animal “created”? Has it been successful? Is it currently being used to help humans? Also consider such aspects as animal suffering and animal rights. What if the animal contained human genes and ended up being consumed for food? Will this affect the overall genome of this creature in the wild? List at least one source from your research.
3. Cloning – Research cloning. Consider the following: How is the procedure done? What’s the difference between reproductive cloning and therapeutic cloning? What are the pros? What are the cons? Should it be regulated? Are there currently clones in the market now? Would a clone of a dead relative or pet have the same personality? List at least one source from your research.