Adapted from www.mariemontschools.org

AP Biology – Spring 2016

Bioethics Research Paper and Final Presentation Bioethics is the study of the moral and ethical questions that relate to biology and medicine. For example, “When does a human life begin?” “Who, if anybody, should have the power to end a human life?” “Should an individual be able to patent genes?” Your assignment is to research one area of bioethics and write a research paper. Your paper should include the following information:

• A section introducing the bioethical question and containing scientific background information and a historical perspective. The biological basis of the topic must be addressed and explained in this section. Be specific, and discuss how any biotechnology related to your topic works.

• The viewpoints about the bioethical issues with a substantive section explaining the various perspectives.

Discuss each viewpoint and describe the arguments supporting that viewpoint. Do not argue for any one perspective, yet. (Make sure the citations are complete and correct).

• Take an ethical stand, and argue the ethical viewpoint constructively. Back your argument with ethics

supporting your viewpoint of the ethical use of this technology. Your argument should be scholarly, not based on an emotional response. Cite any sources you use and base your response in ethics. Use third person. The word ”I” should never appear in your paper.

Additional Requirements A cover page with the title, your name, class period, and date submitted. About 1800 to 2500 words to cover the topic. This works out to be about 6- 7 pages typed with 12-point font, and doubled-spaced with 1-inch margins on all sides. Keep quotations to a minimum. More is not necessarily better. Although your paper should contain some appropriately placed quotes, it should not consist entirely of someone else’s ideas or opinions. Internal citations for quotes and paraphrasing throughout the paper, documented according to APA format. See http://www.write.armstrong.edu/handouts/APAstyle.pdf Use a minimum of six research sources.

• None may be from a general encyclopedia, or Wikipedia.org. • One must be from a printed source other than your textbook, • One from an open access Scientific Journal (See http://www.doaj.org/ for a listing of appropriate

journals), • The others may be from any of the above, or an appropriate internet site. You may have more than 6

references. Be careful about the sources you choose to use, some of them are not carefully edited or contain false information.

Adapted from www.mariemontschools.org

Include a “Works Cited” (reference) page with references documented according to the APA format. All “Works Cited” references must have an internal citation in the body of the paper referring back to them. See http://www.write.armstrong.edu/handouts/APAstyle.pdf Due Dates Share your outline and paper with me as “Can edit” via Google Docs at pberry@tamdistrict.org Research Paper Outline – due Wednesday, May 25 Research Paper – Shared with me by class time-Wednesday, June 1 Presentation – Sing up to present Wednesday, June 1 or Friday, June 3 (seniors) and Thursday, June 9 (juniors) Scoring Scale for Research Paper Score 4.0 In addition to a Score 3.0 performance, the student:

• Thoroughly describes multiple perspectives of the bioethics issue • Effectively uses citations to enhance the readers understanding of the perspectives • Provides a scholarly argument, supported by citations, for or against the biotechnology • Creates a cohesive organization that establishes clear relationships among claims, evidence and

analysis • Maintains formal style that shows clear understanding of purpose, audience and discipline • Makes no errors • Presents with enthusiasm and a clear perspective

Score 3.0 In addition to Score 2.0 performance, the student: • Provides scientific background sufficient for understanding the bioethical issue • Provides historical perspective on the bioethics issue • Describes multiple perspectives on the bioethics issue • Maintains an objective tone while describing different perspectives • Maintains appropriate tone for purpose and audience • Makes few errors • Presents their research

Score 2.0 The student: • Clearly defines the bioethical question • Explains how the biotechnology related to this issu works • Identifies multiple perspectives on the bioethical issue • Takes a ethical stand on the bioethical issue • Uses quoted evidence to support claims • Uses a minimum of 6 research sources • Uses MLA to cite sources internally and in Works Cited page • Includes a Cover Page • Provides a research paper that is1800 to 2500 words in length • Develops a logical organization • Uses clear, correct sentences • Spells correctly

Adapted from www.mariemontschools.org

• Makes some errors • Submits an outline

Score 1.0 The student demonstrates a partial understanding of some of the simpler requirements and some of the more complex requirements.

Score 0 The student demonstrates little understanding of the bioethical topic.

Before picking a topic ask yourself the following: What are the issues behind this ethical topic? Why do we have the problem? What is the technology/science related to the ethical topic? How does it work? What are some approaches to understanding/solving the problem? Is it safe/tested? Then: What are the ethical questions that arise from these issues? Should we use it/should it be done? How? Why? What happens if we do/don’t? After picking a topic: Develop an understanding of the topic. Form a question. Decide what the future of the technology should be or be used for. Possible Topics 1. Stem cells used in research 2. Responsibility and response to emerging diseases such as HIV, hemorrhagic fever, Ebola, avian flu, others. 3. Genetically modified bacteria--threat/promise 4. US response to non-endemic diseases (ex. malaria, polio, yellow fever, zika etc.) 5. Shortage of organs for organ replacement 6. Patents on genes and gene products 7. Use of knowledge of a person’s genome as it relates to health care, jobs, insurance etc. 8. Xenotransplantation-(“xeno”-foreign)-ex. Chimp kidney into a human 9. Needs of endangered animals vs. the needs of people 10. Cloning of extinct animals 11. Selection of a child’s genetic characteristics 12. Stem cell therapy to treat genetic diseases 13. Cloning technologies for infertile couples 14. Growth enhancements (as in growth hormones) for meat animals 15. Safety of new biotech (need to narrow down topic to a few specifics) 16. Environmental risks of biotechnology in agriculture 17. Biopharmaceuticals testing on animals 18. Experimental gene therapy use in humans 19. Frozen embryo ownership 20. Use of information from the Human Genome Research Project

Adapted from www.mariemontschools.org

21. Transgenics ( genetically modified)and evolution 22. Use of cells/tissues removed during surgical processes or after death 24. Use of biological agents in bio-terrorism 25. Irradiation of our food supply 26. Use of bioengineered (transgenic) crops to feed humans (safety) 27. Genetically altered fish as a protein source 28. Fish farming and its effect on the environment 29. DNA vaccines to control disease 30. Using anti-bacterials routinely for control of bacteria 31. Use of biotechnology to extend age in humans 32. Technology of maintaining life-life support 33. Owner of scientific knowledge? 34. Responsibilities of scientists to the public 36. Global warming-and our response is? 38. Overfishing of oceanic resources 39. Alternate fuel sources-biofuels 40. Alternate fuel sources-non-biological 41. “Green” transportation 42. Building "green" 43. Water: What is clean water? How much potable water do we have? What are the issues? 44. Public Health: Should it be mandatory to report infectious diseases? 45. Public Health: Should vaccines be mandatory? MMR, HPV, Flu, etc. 46. Public Health: Health Care reform (focus on the biology/ science and not the politics of this issue) 47. Euthanasia 48. Water shortage in California. How do we address this? 49. Research Paper Outline – due May 25th Use the skeleton below to develop your outline. Use sub bullets as needed and indicate the sources of your scientific background information, historical perspective, arguments for and against the biotechnology, and for your ethical stand. Section 1 I. Bioethical Question: II. Scientific Background:

Adapted from www.mariemontschools.org

III. Historical Perspective: Section 2 IV. Arguments for the biotechnology: V. Arguments against the biotechnology: Section 3 VI. Ethical Stand Statement: VII. Your Arguments: Works Cited: Possible Sources http://www.bioethics.org.au/index.html http://library.sau.edu/bestinfo/hot/Bioethics/bioeth.htm http://bioethics.com/ http://www.bioethics.net/ http://www.unesco.org/new/en/social-and-human-sciences/themes/bioethics/