Watch the Ted talk by Paul Wolpe.
Comment on these questions:
- Are you surprised by the capabilities? Are you worried about the research? Why or why not?
- Do animals have rights? If yes, do we violate those rights by manipulating their genomes, say by making them glow?
- Do your ethical theories extend (apply) to animals? To the natural world, like an ecosystem?
*new/followup* apparently this is a hot research area now
21Nov14
* A short video about brain-computer interface:
http://www.the-scientist.com//?articles.view/articleNo/41367/title/Mind--Powered/
this gives a little more info on those weird controlled roaches & 3rd armed monkey from the Wolpe Ted Talk.
* http://www.the-scientist.com//?articles.view/articleNo/41463/title/Monkeys-Learn-to-Steer-Wheelchair/
Sentinels in the Sewers - NYTimes.com
This article describes a new area of basic research -- trying to map out the genome of our cities by sampling our sewage. So gross yet so cool!
http://mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/well/2014/11/10/what-our-sewage-can-teach-us/?nlid=25414714&src=recpb&referrer=
Q: What is basic science research? What is its role in the development of technology, treatments, other improvements for our lives? Should there be limits on basic science? Should there be limits on what companies--in contrast to the government, military, and/or academia--can research? GMOs? Chemical/biological research that might be turned into weapons?
Yikes, this is crazy. I am not sure that I am surprised that this is possible but more so that it is actually happening. I was aware of the first cloned sheep but none of the other examples. Also, the thought of using these creatures for warzones in the future brings this to a whole different level. Makes me nervous to think what other countries might be doing as South Korea were the first to create some of these examples.
ReplyDeleteDo animals have rights? I believe that they should have some rights but not to the extent that humans do. They should be valued, they are living and have a sense of feeling. Animals cannot speak for themselves and for that reason we need to protect them. However, I do believe that medically testing on animals provides us value and is ok to an extent. I believe, we as humans have stepped over the line when we start to genetically manipulating them and making them glow or adding electronic chips and controlling their moves.
Do your ethical theories extend to animals? To the natural world, like an ecosystem? To some extent. For example, I believe that a human that kills another human being (outside of self defense) should be sent to trial for their actions. However, we can not really do that with animals and it fits more of the survival of the fittest. So where my ethical theories align they do.
Colette, I agree with you - when I saw that video, it sounded like there is nothing in place to prevent people from using the technology for unethical and ulterior motives (like putting electrodes into moth's and camera's to spy on people).
DeleteI like your summation on animal rights and ethical theories in that animals have no voice, but you must be practical in application (like you cannot put animals on trial for their action), but individuals are put on trial for cruelty to animals - makes me wonder - who would put those researchers or their supporters on trial - does anyone care about a moth versus an eel brain - versus a cute cuddly kitten?
Colette...great thoughts....I absolutely agree with you in regards to some testing needs to take place on animals if it helps us with something.
DeleteI must admit, when I watched that video it freaked me out. I immediately sent the link to family and friends. I am very surprised by some of what they showed, and had no idea that humans possessed the capability to alter genetics, including endangered species, lab rats, etc. To some extent, I am worried about the research, but I am also fascinated and impressed (like growing an ear?) The reason for that statement is my son has juvenile diabetes and Ciliac disease. I know they are in research right now where they have tissues to grow a pancreas. If the research is performed for treatment and prevention that would be incredible.
ReplyDeleteDo animals have rights? If yes, do we violate those rights by manipulating their genomes, say by making them glow? Interesting question. I do believe that we have to protect animals from harm and cruelty and some of the things they show, like glowing cats, mice, seem weird. I'm not sure why, but the fish didn't really affect me the same way - probably because you cannot cuddle or pet them. I do believe there has been huge developments in cures for diseases for humans because of the research performed on lab rats. However, I don't think that growing a synthetic ear or drilling electrodes into the heads of animals to control their movements is right. The animals have no voice so that is where I believe we should speak up.
Do your ethical theories extend to animals? To the natural world, like an ecosystem? Again, this is tricky for me - while on one hand I say yes - because they have no voice and are being manipulated for science and research - I see that there have been great discoveries because of their use. I believe there should be standards put into place, but then what are they and how many can become an issue. Like too many policies, procedures, fines, etc. - gets to a point where they are so diluted and stifling that no one wants to keep working. I have concerns about the ecosystem if we are creating new species of plants and animals and have no standards or knowledge of what will happen in their evolution.
I think so far we are all on the same page with some testing if it is for the sake of medicine is fine, but when it seems like these people are just "playing" it is just wrong. These are lives, even if they are animals.
DeleteLorain/Maura, I did the same thing. I instantly sent this link to some friends and family. It is crazy and agree it feels like these people are experimenting on things that should not be. This is cruel and god help us if they start doing this to people.
DeleteI totally agree with you, Lorain, the great discoveries seem worth it on one hand, but these animals are defenseless creatures. It such a slippery slope, who dictates what is right and wrong. What is worthy, and not? Very scary. Humans have so much power, but at what cost?
DeleteAll of this testing and experimenting is crossing an ethical line. Just because we have the technology and knowledge to do this, it doesn't mean it should be done. The animals and insects being controlled is not ethical. Deforming animals to create transplant body parts is not normal. Saving a species with a morphed version of the real thing is ridiculous. I am guessing that these experiments and tests will continue so much that it will become normal to us as a society. It's normal to be intrigued by the advances that have been made, but the line needs to be drawn on what can and should be done. Someone needs to be the voice to speak up against this.
DeleteJody, what if these insects and other animals are used in a time of war where it would replace a human being? Instead of placing a solider in a dangerous situation where they are standing next to a terrorist who is getting ready to set off a bomb? Not saying it is right but does this make it more moral? Not sure, just thought I would through out another angle?
DeleteAre you surprised by the capabilities? Are you worried about the research? Why or why not?
ReplyDeleteNo I am not surprised by the capabilities. Yes I am worried about the research because it almost seems like a game at this point. Why are we testing meaningless things on innocent animals? I understand animals are not humans but why?? Why make them (or us) glow? If we are testing animals for the purpose of medical research that will HELP us, then I am all about it. But, messing with genetics just to do it is crazy.
Do animals have rights? If yes, do we violate those rights by manipulating their genomes, say by making them glow?
I already touched on this before. Yes, animals have rights. They are living, breathing, beings, not human beings, but they still matter. I am not a crazy animal advocate, but I don't support manipulating anything natural in this world. My saying is "it is what it is". This is going against what I think, and that is altering what is supposed to be even if it is not perfect. So YES we are violating their rights.
Do your ethical theories extend to animals? To the natural world, like an ecosystem? I am not sure if my so-called ethical theories extend to animals and the natural world, but I feel we need to watch what we do and how it will affect us down the road. So many people are playing with things and have no idea what the repercussions will be. It is creepy to me that we would choose to alter anything in this world. We need to learn to just let some things be.
I agree that this creepy. Honestly, I think ignorance may be bliss in this case ( not really) but it does stress me out when I think about it too much. The capabilities we have are so scary, I just hope that the majority of the people with the power to control these sciences are in the field for the right reasons.
DeleteMelissa, the capabilities are scary. I would hope that the majority of people would speak up, but so often we do not hoping someone else will do it for us.
DeleteMaura, to your point "we would choose to alter anything in this world" we are determining the evolution vs. evolution take time. It is scary!
ReplyDeleteMaura, I agree that research to HELP us is the purpose of medical research. How many kids do you think would want to have glowing puppies and kitties? Probably a lot but it might also give them nightmares. I agree with your stance on rights and ethical theories. Seems we as a human race have taken things to the far extreme and it is very scary.
ReplyDeleteThe information included in this video was some of the most disturbing, upsetting, sickening, and morally repugnant information I have ever witnessed. What the HELL, we are so screwed if this kind of thing continues. I know we are trying to fight the GMO and things like this but for the love, do we not know what we are doing? Can no one see how destructive and plain stupid this is? Humans are the most horrible thing to ever happen to the earth. Where does it end? Have we learned nothing from our past mistakes? I am terrified by what people think is okay and what length we are willing to go to "in the name of science." Everything they are doing is wrong, and horrible, and depraved. It all goes against any moral, ethical, or righteous compass I have and makes my skin crawl.
ReplyDeleteDo animals have rights? Yes they do, they feel pain, fear, joy, and loss so yes of course they have rights. This damn video probably just made me a vegetarian for so many reasons. It takes a specially kind of evil sick person to intentionally cause pain to something that has no voice.
If yes, do we violate those rights by manipulating their genomes, say by making them glow? Well duh, of course it's a violation. Stupid people used to dye baby chicks and sell them for Easter (all the chicks promptly died when kids got them home) this isn't any different. It's not okay to do things just to see if it will work when there is a living, breathing, feeling creature attached to it. I hope someone experiments on these scientists one day and see how they like it.
Do your ethical theories extend to animals? Yes, I don't want to hurt things that can't speak back.
To the natural world, like an ecosystem? Of course, there is nothing more damaging to this earth than humans. We do so little good and so much bad to our earth, that eventually our children will glow in the dark without being genetically modified. People are stupid if they think that they can continue on this path of unadulterated consumption of our planet with no consequences. We have seen it over and over again, and yet there is not change in behaviors. The majority of the world's population only care about themselves and their comforts and aren't willing to do anything to jeopardize either.
Sorry for the soap box but I won't sleep for days after this.
Are you surprised by the capabilities? Are you worried about the research? Why or why not?
ReplyDelete-I'm not surprised by the capabilities at all, I think that here soon we'll be able to clone ourselves for a significant amount of money. With technology anything is possible and there are so many scientist out there that are doing extensive studies on figuring this out. I am worried about the research only because I think that we're doing it for all the wrong reasons. The religious side of me doesn't believe that we came from apes. I just don't think that we should keep creating things that won't serve a purpose just to say we did it. I agree with the others of the class that say people of today are stupid to think we can continue to look into this sort of stuff. We should be doing more like focusing on how to cure cancer and how to stop some of the epidemic issues that we currently have.
Do animals have rights? If yes, do we violate those rights by manipulating their genomes, say by making them glow?
- Animals most certainly should have rights but I'm one of which is in the middle of this 50/50. I come from a family of hunters and I know that I've had people in the past ask me why I would kill a harmless animal. My answer to them is that they are overpopulated and in order for the some of them to live you must eliminate some of them. We also use this as a source of nutrition because we do eat the meat. On the other hand I don't agree with people who train pitbulls to fight one another, I think that's useless harm to an animal. I don't agree with artificially altering animals genetics just to create a bigger animal or an animal that doesn't exist. I think that's uncalled for.
Do your ethical theories extend to animals? To the natural world, like an ecosystem?
- Once again I think that there are to many animals in this world in which people do hunt and they do that ethically. Now for the one's who do that unethically or hurt innocent animals that are not being utilized for their well being but just to inflict pain on them I completely disagree with that.
I agree with you, Nate, in that we did not come from apes. I also agree that research should be better spent on finding or publicizing its findings on curing cancer or other life-threatening diseases. The cloning or partial cloning of animals that's taking place even to "save a dying race" is not justifiable in my mind. these are not the animal they're trying to save - they are similar, but not the same, so what's the point. They are creating new versions.
DeleteThe research part of this is so whacked out that I do not know what or how to think. I am an information guy, and I need more info just so I can wrap my head around the idea. Your second paragraph hits home to me in regards to animals rights. I too come from a long line of hunters/outdoorsmen. In my family hunting was done out of necessity. If you wanted meat, you either raised it and butchered it, or you went to the woods and killed it. I think hunters are far more ethical than your average meat eater. Meat does not come from a nice clean package at the grocery, or a 99 cent sandwich at your favorite fast food restaurant. It comes from an animal that lost its life. Hunters kill it, clean it, and butcher it. This is a pretty gruesome and mind opening experience. I am a meat eater, and I do believe in animals rights. I argue that hunters have a better understanding of animals rights than the average person. Meat is tasty, but you do not understand where it comes form until you have had your hands inside the warm body of an animal that you just killed. Native Americans had this part figured out. They worshiped the animals that were sacrificed, so they could provide nourishment to their families. Yes animals have rights, but necessity often requires us to use them for our survival. Hell, who knows, we might be an experiment that is being observed by an alien life form.
DeleteYuk, thanks for that. Though at least the hunter kills it quickly instead of torturing it forever and then letting it die. What they are doing is not comparable to hunting, it's torturing something without a voice.
DeleteI cannot say I'm surprised by the technology, I knew we had this power. I'm conflicted by this entire subject. I know that we do not need glow in the dark animals and certainly not people, but biotechnology is also saving human lives and leading some research that will be good for human beings and animals as well.
ReplyDeleteThough I love animals and want to say yes, animals should have rights. I fear that I'm being hypocritical. If one of my children needed a lifesaving treatment that involved animals (such as the ears/skin mice grow) I'm betting I would agree to them receiving the treatment. It's hard to draw that ethical line on what is good and was is excess, or "for fun". Who ultimately decides this?
Like the speaker said "every ones favorite, the Zorse". When something is what we consider beneficial, or even cute and cuddly we seem to be okay with it. It is easy to forget what is exactly going on.
The story about "grey goo" made me really think about the scary potential. We must all worry about what can and will happen to our ecosystem and world if we continue messing with biology in such a way.
Q: What is basic science research? What is its role in the development of technology, treatments, other improvements for our lives? Should there be limits on basic science? Should there be limits on what companies--in contrast to the government, military, and/or academia--can research? GMOs? Chemical/biological research that might be turned into weapons?
ReplyDeleteBasic science research is basically studying something in order to understand it better. It's role is huge in basically everything in our lives. Take a look at this article...who would have thought that studying sewage would lead to possibly so many answers!?! As we looked at our initial responses in regards to research, there should be limits on what can be studied. When scientists get foolish and study things like animals that glow, then we see why there should be limits. I think we should focus on natural remedies that the earth has produced itself in order to find cures for the issues at hand. We have altered our food so much at this point that it is scary and quite honestly makes me want to start my own farm...I know I know, but I feel like I really don't know what is in my food anymore! So if scientists, or people like us used basic science to help us find more natural remedies I feel it would be beneficial. I am not sure what you meant by your last question with weapons...but I think we are good with biological weapons! I wish it could all stop! But, unfortunately we have to keep up with other countries. It is all just scary to me the capabilities that are out there now, and we really don't know what they are and how they affect the world.
What is basic science research? In this case, it's studying the waste of communities to better understand the norms and differences, comparatively.
ReplyDeleteWhat is its role in the development of technology, treatments, other improvements for our lives? Its role here is quite fascinating. It can push scientists to create new ways of determining what's going on in these communities and prepare for addressing these issues, be it a new strain of flu, or as mentioned, monitor how well a community is doing at eliminating sugary drinks from its diet - that is definitely not something I've ever thought of as far as tracking waste. Who is to say that in the future our waste from our home won't be tracked to see if we're "breaking any laws".
Should there be limits on basic science? Everything that's done needs to have limits, I believe. It all depends on how new the science is and where it ends up going as far as what limits need to be placed on it. One would hope that common sense would tell scientists when to stop, but as we've already seen that is not the case. It's almost as if scientists want to see how far they can go knowing that society will stand back and watch as it unfolds like a train wreck. Maybe there will be ramifications for what's discovered and done, maybe there won't. It is a definite gamble.
Should there be limits on what companies--in contrast to the government, military, and/or academia--can research? To me, research is one thing where experimentation is a complete other. When the rights of living organisms and animals are exploited and used in unethical ways to test a hypothesis, it needs to be limited. GMOs? I choose not to eat GMO's. To me, the additives are not worth it. Chemical/biological research that might be turned into weapons? I understand that it's important to protect our country and that other countries in the would are ruthless and will do anything to be the biggest threat - we need to know what they've got "up their sleeve" but chemical and biological warfare is terrifying to me. Yes, it's real, and it's getting scarier. I do not support it but I wouldn't want to be the only country that doesn't have an equally destructive weapon if it came down to us having to use it.
What is basic science research? In my opinion, basic science research is testing, research, gathering of specimen, forming hypothesis regarding findings and giving recommendation as to expected outcome. In reading the article, the NYU students were drawing vials of bacteria specimen from waste water dumped into the Manhattan River looking for trends in infectious disease.
ReplyDeleteWhat is its role in the development of technology, treatments, other improvements for our lives? The role is to look for trends, detection and creation of medicine or other medical devices to help humans live a better, more healthy life.
Should there be limits on basic science? I think that depends upon such personal beliefs as religious (i.e., some religions do not believe that science should be using the cells from aborted babies to help cure diseases , etc.). I think it ultimately depends on whether it is being used for development of treatments to prevent or cure disease or improve quality of life.
Should there be limits on what companies--in contrast to the government, military, and/or academia--can research? I guess my question would be where does it end? Do we continue to have laws, regulations and oversight – then I think yes, within limits is perfectly acceptable; we should not allow anyone to have free reign to begin experimentation, say without our knowledge (mind tapping devices).
GMOs? This is a scary thing, because we do not know what the GMO fruits, vegetables, grains or meet – byproduct may be. Will those same things used to grow food bigger, faster and without pestilence cause birth defects in the unborn; cause health problems, etc.
Chemical/biological research that might be turned into weapons? I think this is inevitable no matter what we think, say or pass as government or oversight. There will always be someone who has researches looking for those things to turn into WMD’s.
While reading the article about the NYC students researching the different specimen and bacteria from the waste water that had been dumped into the river. I understand the need for such by means of society advancing in new treatments and new technology for improving longevity of life expectancy. At what point or at what price will it end? With new discovery's come new sacrifices, look at the Ebola outbreak we did not have any record of the virus until recently and now people (widespread) across the nation is being documented for the Ebola virus outbreak.
DeleteThe government need to have limitations or maintain certain standards for our country dealings with foreign processes whether it's biochemical, weapons etc. these are the key ingredients for many destructions of today
The technology that uses the brain power to move cursors is much like the monkey moving the wheelchair. It is really cool, but somewhat unimaginable. I think that this could be used for stroke victims or those who have experienced body injuries in war. As long as they do not have serious or debilitating brain injuries they could utilize this innovation to get to some type of normalcy. If it is for the good of the many, outweighing the good of the few - it meets the many the need.
ReplyDeleteResearch has soared since we created the microchip. Technology is key, we need it to better our world. but with bio-mechanical engineering i do believe it is a gray area in ethics. How far do we go? when is it enough? that is my concern. Manipulating animal species is crazy. I don't think we want to go down that road. it seems like something that could get out of control quickly.
ReplyDeleteI do believe animals have rights. they were put on this planet along side the human race. Changing the genetic make up of a living organism to our favor is interesting. but the end result could go very wrong. As humans we have the responsibility to care of the animals on this earth. but altering DNA to do our bidding seems wrong. Yes science requires research but lets not potentially damage the specimen(s) in the process.
I do believe it carries over we are the caretakers of this planet. Protecting its ecosystem is not only important for humans but all living creatures. We do a lot of damage to earth but there is still time to make changes for our future.