Week 4 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 is strongly encouraged that your initial post be posted by 11:59 PM ET on Thursday. 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.
You should then make at least two additional posts to other students on either topic. 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. Your posts should be on at least 3 separate days with all being completed by 11:59 PM ET Sunday.
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Threaded Discussion Rubric |
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Post 1 |
60 Points Possible |
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1. Student submitted an appropriate and substantive post to the original assignment. This includes addressing all of the original questions/issues in a grammatically correct and logical manner |
30 |
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2. Assignment submitted on time and on a different day than other posts |
10 |
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3. Assignment met word count |
10 |
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4. An appropriate scientific website was referenced correctly |
10 |
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Post 2 |
20 Points Possible |
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1. Student submitted an appropriate and substantive response to another student’s post in a grammatically correct and logical manner |
10 |
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2. Assignment submitted on time and on a different day than other posts |
5 |
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3. Assignment met word count |
5 |
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Post 3 |
20 Points Possible |
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1. Student submitted an appropriate and substantive response to another student’s post in a grammatically correct and logical manner |
10 |
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2. Assignment submitted on time and on a different day than other posts |
5 |
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3. Assignment met word count |
5 |
Choose one of the following topics for your initial discussion post. Remember that participation is required on a minimum of three days through 11:59 PM ET Sunday. You are required to respond to at least 2 classmates.
1. Genetically engineered/modified foods –
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? Plant vs. animal vs. human 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? Did anyone see the movie, “The Island”? Your thoughts? List at least one source from your research.
PEER 1
Amber Smith
Cloning is a subject that most people don’t really like to discuss because it causes such a debate and most people only believe what they have seen or heard from the media. During the cloning procedure DNA from the somatic cell is removed and placed inside of an egg in which the nucleus has been removed. That egg is then placed inside of the animals stomach until birth. The whole process is kind of like that of a surrogate mother. Although the media and society seem to think that humans have been cloned, it is false. Scientists have yet to clone a human. Animals have been cloned, starting with mice, then cows, sheep, and chicken. ” It was not until 1996, however, that researchers succeeded in cloning the first mammal from a mature (somatic) cell taken from an adult animal. After 276 attempts, Scottish researchers finally produced Dolly, the lamb from the udder cell of a 6-year-old sheep.” (https://www.genome.gov/25020028/cloning-fact-sheet/) Plants clone naturally through asexual reproduction which we learn about in class. This process is where 1 parent cell produces genetically identical copies. Although they are called clones and they look identical, it is not guaranteed that they will have the same personality. Personality is only partly genetic the rest is dependent on how it is raised. There are some positives to cloning contrary to popular belief. One of the major positives is that we can rebuild the population of animals that are in danger of extinction. There are also drawbacks to cloning, studies have shown that cloning may cause increased birth size, a shorter life span, and defects in the vital organs. Dolly the lamb is a prime example who only lived to be six when lambs typically live an average of 12 years. Some people also feel that cloning a human would be against some religious beliefs as well as take away from their personal identity. I do believe that cloning should definitely be regulated. We should only clone animals that are at a high risk of extinction and that also pose no direct threat to society. Clones are used for research purposes only at the present time so there are no clones on the market right now. No, I have not seen The Island.
Word Count: 376
Source: Cloning Fact Sheet. (2016, May 11). Retrieved May 25, 2016, from https://www.genome.gov/25020028/cloning-fact-sheet/
PEER 2
Nicholas Karpf
Genetically engineered/modified foods more commonly known as genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms whose genetic make up has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally. A commonly modified organism is the tomato. In 1994, genetically modified tomatoes hit the market in the US as the first commercially available genetically modified crop but now; modified tomatoes have since disappeared after 1998. The modified tomato had a “deactivated” gene. This meant that the tomato plant was no longer able to produce polygalacturonase, an enzyme involved in fruit softening. It was not mentioned how much of the total genome had been modified but surely it had to be a large percentage to where the tomatoes were pulled off the shelf. Generally, the product would be safe if the timetable of the tomato ripening decreased. There is no way to know if you are eating this product versus a non-GMO product unless the company places a “non-GMO” label on their packaging. Consumers should be told they are consuming a genetically modified product especially when people have different beliefs and cultures when it comes to food. Personally I think there is no harm in genetically modified foods. If a GMO can contain vitamins in a product that an individual does not have an allergic reaction to, then the GMO is benefitting the consumer no matter what. My position would not change if I were a vegetarian or an organic gardener, or the owner of a major food chain unless there was evidence to show harmful side effects to the consumers.
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/science/gmfoods/
4 years ago
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