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Genetics and Ethics resources
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This resource comprises a series of briefings and is part of the Bioethics Bytes website. This is the first in the series of briefings and was written by Chris Willmott (University of Leicester). It shows us how bioethics issues affect us all and how we hear about issues which fall into this category on a daily basis.
Resource: Bioethics Briefing No 1: Ethics and Bioethics in Education
Age range: 16-18
Approach: Topic Material
Genetically modified crops
This resource comprises a series of briefings and is part of the Bioethics Bytes website. This is the second in the series of briefings and was written by John Bryant (University of Exeter). It highlights the background in selective plant breeding over the centuries and then describes the more recent advances and the introduction of genetically modified crops.
Resource: Bioethics Briefing No 2: Crop plant genetic modification
Age range: 16-18
Approach: Topic Material
Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis
This resource comprises a series of briefings and is part of the Bioethics Bytes website. This is the third in the series of briefings and was written by Chris Willmott (University of Leicester). It covers the issues concerning assisted conception and "designer babies", which is a term which is often heard in the popular media.
Resource: Bioethics Briefing No 3: Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis
Age range: 16-18
Approach: Topic Material
Xenotransplantation
This resource comprises a series of briefings and is part of the Bioethics Bytes website. This is the fourth in the series of briefings and was written by Chris Willmott (University of Leicester). As human-to-human transplantation has become more and more successful, it has almost become a victim of its own success. There is a shortage of donor organs, and even with more government initiatives to change the organ donor register system, there will still be a shortfall. Would animal cells, organs and tissues be able to fill this gap?
Resource: Bioethics Briefing No 4: Xenotransplantation
Age range: 16-18
Approach: Topic Material
Stem cells
This resource comprises a series of briefings and is part of the Bioethics Bytes website. This is the fifth in the series of briefings and was written by John Bryant (University of Exeter). This briefing provides background on stem cell, the two different types of stem cells (adult and embryonic), and the ethics involved in using them.
Resource: Bioethics Briefing No 5:Stem Cells
Age range: 16-18
Approach: Topic Material
Issues at the end of life
This resource comprises a series of briefings and is part of the Bioethics Bytes website. This is the sixth and final one of the series of briefings and was jointly written by John Searle (South West Ministry Training Course) and John Bryant (University of Exeter). Should it be legal for doctors to actively participate in ending the lives of terminally ill patients? What are the concerns raised?
Resource: Bioethics Briefing No 6: Issues at the End of Life
Age range: 16-18
Approach: Topic Material
Science and the Ethics of Stem Cells
In March 2009 Dr Chris Wilmott was interviewed by SuperSonic FM, a Leicester school radio station, as part of their National Science Week activities. This is a recording of the interview (27.5 minutes).
Resource: SuperSonic FM
Age range: 16-18
Approach: Audio
Catalogue of Reusable Learning Objects
The University of Cambridge's excellent catalogue which covers genetics-related subject such as Clinical Utility, Informed Consent and Moral Theories as well as many more. The resources are a mix of podcasts, video presentations and Powerpoint presentations
Resource: University of Cambridge - Catalogue of RLOs
Age range: 16-18
Approach: Topic material, resources
Ethical, Legal and Social Issues
A macromedia presentation by Dr Susan Wallace from the University of Cambridge. This is one of the University's excellent public health seminars, created by the Public Health Genetics Foundation
Resource: Ethical, legal and social issues
Age range: 16-18
Approach: Topic Material, tutorial, video
Protect Consumers from Gene Tests
A BBC news article where Dr Ainsley Newson, senior lecturer in biomedical ethics at the University of Bristol is interviewed and gives his opinions on the inherent dangers of being given your DNA sequence on a memory stick.
Resource: BBC News Article
Age range: 16-18
Approach: Topic Material
USPharmD+ Top 50 Genetics Blogs
A list of links to genetics-related blogs world-wide. Topics covered include issues such as health, biotechnology, evolution and many more.
Resource: Top 50 Genetics Blogs
Age range: 16-18
Approach: Topic Material
BioethicsBytes
An online collection of multimedia resources to help with the teaching of bioethics, arranged by topic category.
Resource: BioethicsBytes website
Age range: 16-18
Approach: Topic Material, videos, miscellaneous
The Ethics of Genetics
Wellcome Trust Site with news, features and background information.
Resource: The Wellcome Trust: Ethics of Genetics
Age range: 16-18
Approach: Topic Material, videos, miscellaneous
The Genetic Interest Group
The Genetic Interest Group (GIG) is a national alliance of patient organisations with a membership of over 130 charities which support children, families and individuals affected by genetic disorders.
Resource: The Genetic Interest Group (GIS)
Age range: 16-18
Approach: Topic Material, videos, miscellaneous
Topical Information and Resources
This is brought to you by The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity and bioethics.com. The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity exists to help individuals and organizations address the pressing bioethical challenges of today, including managed care, end-of-life treatment, genetic intervention, euthanasia and suicide, and reproductive technologies. bioethics.com is a global information source on bioethics news and issues.
Resource: Topical Information and Resources
Age range: 16-18
Approach: Topic Material
Pigs offer new stem cell source
BBC news article about Chinese scientists who have given cells from adult pigs the ability to turn into any tissue in the body, just like embryonic stem cells.
Resource: BBC News
Age range: 16-18
Approach: Topic Material
Scientists make sperm cells
BBC news article about UK scientists who claim to have made human sperm from stem cells. They foresee a possible use in treatment on male infertility.
Resource: BBC News
Age range: 16-18
Approach: Topic Material
Use of model organisms in research
A series of videos discussing the use of organisms such as yeast and fruit flies to improve our understanding of human disease.
Resources:
- An interview with Dr Flav Giorgini about the use of yeast and fruit flied to study Huntingdon's Disease (2.57)
- An interview with Prof Bambos Kyriacou talking about Drosophila and biorhythms (3:05)
- An interview with Prof Rhona Borts talking about her use of yeast to study both infertility and cancers that develop from errors in DNA replication (1:40)
- A longer interview with Dr Flav Giorgini talking about his work (9:11)
- A longer interview with Prof Kyriacou (14:10)
- A longer interview with Prof Borts (5:44)
- Prof Borts explaining why the life cycle of yeast makes it a valuable research tool (3:11)
Age range: 14-16, 16-18
Approach: Video
BioethicsBytes: Forensic uses of DNA
This 5 minute video looks at a fictional murder in Leicester and reflects on some of the ethical arguments for and against the use of DNA evidence in such cases. It includes an interview with Prof Sir Alec Jeffreys, inventor of the original method for DNA fingerprinting.
Resource: Forensic uses of DNA
Approach: Video
Headline Bioethics
Headline Bioethics is a resource that contains background information and structured activities based on online video clips, to enable busy lecturers and school teachers to address the science and ethical implications of new developments in biology and biomedicine. There are two study guides in this series:
Genetic Modification of Food
Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis
Resource: Headline Bioethics
Approach: Tutorial activity
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Licence.
