Ethical Dilemmas in Genetic Engineering

You've found out that the child you (or your wife) carries has the gene for dwarfism. A new therapy exists that may repair this gene before the child is born.

What do you do?

• Attempt the new therapy to repair the gene.

• Allow the child to be born with the gene, as they are

• I am undecided/have another opinion.

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An agricultural company has found a way to make watermelons 50% larger by splicing elephant genes into the watermelons.

What would you do?

• Buy the watermelons and have no problem eating them.

• Probably not buy or eat the watermelons.

• I am undecided/have another opinion.

Pet cloning is now available at your local mall. You used to have a pet dog named Charlie, but he died two years ago. Now you learn that you can get a new Charlie by just bringing in a sample of his hair.

What do you do?

• Find a strand of Charlie’s hair as soon as possible to bring in for cloning!

• Ignore the possibility and never consider cloning Charlie.

• I am undecided/have another opinion.

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A company can now alter the genes of babies according to parent specifications. They can make sure that your child has all the traits you desire - hair color, intelligence, athletic ability, etc... What do you do?

• Sign me up! I want my child to be perfect.

• I’d rather let nature take its course.

• I am undecided/have another opinion.

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Your family is known to have Huntington's disease. The symptoms do not usually appear until the person is in their 40's. There is a test that will tell you if you have the gene

for Huntington's disease.

What do you do?

• I would take the test so I would be better prepared for the future.

• I would prefer not to know and would not take the test.

• I am undecided/have another opinion.

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Cloning technology has been perfected. A clone can be made from adult tissue samples!

You learn that you need a kidney transplant, but there are no donors available. A doctor suggests that you make a clone of yourself, so that the kidney would be a perfect match.

What do you do?

• Clone myself. Two is better than one.

• One of me is enough. I’d wait for a donor.

• I am undecided/have another opinion.

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NGSS.HS-LS3-1

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A government organization is proposing to have all citizens of the US submit a sample of their hair so that their DNA can be scanned and kept on file. Each person's DNA would be kept in a national database so that police from anywhere can access the DNA database when a crime is committed.

What would you do?

• Support the legislation and give them a sample of your DNA.

• Oppose the legislation and not give them a sample.

• I am undecided/have another opinion.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ETS1-3

An experimental procedure would allow you to add genes to your body. You can order certain genes, like an athletic gene or a musical ability gene.

What do you do?

• I would have the procedure done.

• I would not have the procedure done.

• I am undecided/have another opinion.