Genetic predisposition

There are many ethical genetic issues that are controversial and will remain that way forever. Some include disagreements on how humans use animals in biological studies. Xenotransplantation, for example, furthers the use of animals for human benefit. Xenotransplantation, first discovered in the 1900’s, is a method of transplanting live animals cells, tissues, or organs from one species to another. It is becoming more common for animals such as pigs, goats, and monkeys to to be used as organ…

Generalized argyria results from chronically swallowing/inhaling compounds that contain silver. One major issue with the blue skin disorder is that it can be embedded into the genes and passed on to future generations. There have been few cases of genetic transmission of argyria, but one of the more notable cases is that of a family in Kentucky that occurred in the…

In 2004, the National Health and Medical Research Council (‘NHMRC’) banned sex selection on moral and social grounds, except in the case of a serious genetic condition. However, recent debates in Australia have led the NHMRC to consider the prospect of lifting the life ban. It is inherent in such a culturally diverse society that the public cannot reach one consensus. While some believe that sex selection is unethical for ‘moral’ purposes, others believe that it is an ethical means of hindering…

In recent discussions of ethical ways to use genetic screening, a controversial issue has been whether genetic screening of embryos is ethical, and if it isn’t then how can it be ethical. On the other hand, some argue that there isn’t a way to make genetic screenings ethical. From this perspective, many people believe that it’s something that is ethical and can really help families with a genetic disease. On the other hand, however, other argue that you are still killing an embryo which is wrong…

Human beings are influenced by both their genetics and the environment they are raised in. There is a great deal of evidence for both nature and nurture, so why can’t we realize that both can have an impact? Throughout history, the homo species has had to fight for survival. We as humans, for the most part, do not need to fight for food and shelter, yet some of our animal instincts remain. It is not so crazy to say that humans are effected by nature and the environment they grew up in. As we…

process above would be called translation. Think of it as the mRNA code is being translated to form proteins. 8. rRNA is just ribosomal RNA. Protein synthesis is the synthesis of polypeptide chains which then produce the specific proteins based on the genetic code in DNA. It occurs in two stages, transcription and…

Modern day Frankenstein In Marry Wollstonecraft Shelly’s book Frankenstein, she created a person by an untraditional process. Ultimately she was trying to play God. I can see this happening in today’s society in several ways. The first way I see it is when couples are able to seek out help from fertility specialist, to ensure pregnancy and even sometimes the gender of the baby. This is sometimes done to prevent the spread of diseases like muscular dystrophy, where only male offspring will be…

Charles Darwin was a prolific and monumental figure in biology and modern science as a whole. Through his theory of evolution most of the current knowledge of biology is derived. Throughout the chapters X, XI, XII, and XIV of The Origin of Species Darwin argues that there is a mechanism that drives an evolution of species and that species inherently transform and mutate over long periods of time. Darwin argues that species have mechanisms and methods that modify them over long periods of time…

Epigenetics in my life Michel Martinez Morales Miami Dade College Epigenetics In 1939, Waddington created a new word; epigenetics, as the link between two disciplines: developmental biology and genetics. Epigenetic studies how genes switch on and off during the development of the human being and through the lifespan, how gene activities segregate during cell division and how our progeny can inherit the consequences of our lifestyle (Holliday, 2006). To explain the concept of epigenetics, I…

Richard Dawkins is trying to argue that reality can be proven by scientific evidence and magic is used when we do not know why something happen the way they do. We classify something as real when proven by our five senses. However, “we are able to develop new technology and extend the reach of our senses. For example, a microscope to prove that bacteria does exist”. Although, we cannot see microbes with our naked eyes we can use an instrument to see it. Dawkins only believes in poetic magic,…