...Stem Cell Research Of the several forms of biotechnology, one is stem cell research. “To describe stem cells at the simplest of terms, they are raw materials of the body; cells from which all other cells with specialized functions are generated.” ( 2013. Stem Cells: What they are and what they do. ) “Embryonic stem cells are the fundamental building blocks for some of 260 kinds of cells within the body and can turn into anything: heart, muscle, brain, skin, blood.” (Hollowell, Kelly. 2002.)”Human embryonic stem cells are interesting to researchers because their pluripotency allows these cells to differ into any type of body tissue. There is a insufficient amount of advantages of stem cell research, this being one, but the many disadvantages outweigh the somewhat positivity.“ ( 2010. Disadvantages of Embryonic Stem Cells.) Embryonic stem cells come from embryos that are three to five days old. ( 2013. Stem Cells: What they are and what they do.) Human embryonic stem cells first came abroad in 1998 from embryos donated by couples no longer having the desire to use them for their own infertility treatments. From there on out, hES cell research has evolved into an ethical controversy. In the US, for example, a sizable amount have objected to the fact that five-day-old human embryos are destroyed in this process ( Hyun, Insoo. 2010. The Journal of Clinical Investigation). There are advantages that come from stem cell research, such as potential treatment...
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...A Pluripotent Challenge Recent advances in human stem cell research have generated enormous enthusiasm on the part of researchers and optimistic predictions of revolutionary advances in biomedicine. These same advances have also sparked considerable ethical debate. The main ethical challenges associated with stem cell research have to do with the source of those cells. Although some advances have been made in the use of adult stem cells, the consensus seems to be that the most promising categories of stem cells are embryonic stem (ES) cells (derived from the five- to seven-day-old embryos known as blastocysts) and embryonic germ (EG) cells, derived from immature aborted fetuses. In fact, there are four main sources of (non-adult) stem cells, and each presents its own challenging ethical issues. The first such source (of ES cells) is the surplus embryos that are a by-product of the activities of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) labs. One ethical concern here has to do with the status of the embryo itself. The degree of respect that ought to be granted to a human embryo is highly controversial. Some hold that the embryo - genetically human and a potential person - deserves our full respect and protection. Others hold that while the embryo may be genetically human, it has (particularly at early stages) none of the characteristics of persons. It is not conscious; it is not self-aware. It is a cluster of cells with no independent ethical status. Still others hold an in-between view, arguing...
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... Adult stem cell research on humans began in the 1960's, first achieving success in the treatment of a patient with severe combined immunodeficiency disorder in 1968. Since the early 1970's, adult stem cells have been successfully used for treatment of immunodeficiencies and leukemias The issue of stem cell research, particularly embryonic stem cell research, became a high-profile political issue in the U.S. during the first year of President George W. Bush's term in office (2001). On August 9, 2001, Bush enacted a ban on federal spending for the purpose of deriving new embryonic stem cells from fertilized embryos. He argued that performing research on embryos is destroying human life, and should therefore be avoided. Both the 109th and 110th Congresses passed bills overturning the ban, but both were vetoed by Bush. During the 109th Congress, both houses also passed and Bush signed a bill banning the creation of human fetuses with the sole purpose of destroying them and harvesting their body parts. The Senate also passed a bill encouraging research into the creation of stem cell lines without destroying human embryos. The controversy is that embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) is not pro-life. It gives false promises to patients while killing a human embryo. It is dead end research. ESCR has cured no disease nor successfully treated anyone. ESCR has not gone beyond research on lab animals. ESCR produces tissue rejection and unstable deadly tumors. Research advocates...
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...STEM CELL RESEARCH AND THERAPYAND ITS IMPACTS ON SOCIETY Abstract There are several types of stem cells being used in stem cell research and therapy today. They are embryonic, adult and induced pluripotent stem cells. Each will be discussed further. This topic has stirred much moral, ethical and political debate as whether cells from fetuses should be used in this research. This impacts governmental policies on laws and funding. Another issue that must be analyzed is the economics and who should have access to this treatment. The views of people and government on this research differ greatly across the world. There are countries that have very strict laws restricting this research while others take an extremely liberal stance. Stem Cell Research and Therapy and Its Impacts on Society Introduction Stem cells are the basic unit of life that gives rise to all living things. They are the undifferentiated cells that transform into the specialized cells that make up all of the tissues in organisms. With further research and understating, these cells can be used in medicine to cure a wide range of diseases. The most important type of stem cell to humans is the pluripotent stem cell which is usually obtained from human embryos. This has sparked controversy in many aspects of human life. In this paper, we will concentrate on animal and human stem cell research, and its impact on society. A Brief Description Of The Technology And An Explanation Of The Associated...
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...STEM CELL RESEARCH AND THERAPYAND ITS IMPACTS ON SOCIETY Abstract There are several types of stem cells being used in stem cell research and therapy today. They are embryonic, adult and induced pluripotent stem cells. Each will be discussed further. This topic has stirred much moral, ethical and political debate as whether cells from fetuses should be used in this research. This impacts governmental policies on laws and funding. Another issue that must be analyzed is the economics and who should have access to this treatment. The views of people and government on this research differ greatly across the world. There are countries that have very strict laws restricting this research while others take an extremely liberal stance. Stem Cell Research and Therapy and Its Impacts on Society Introduction Stem cells are the basic unit of life that gives rise to all living things. They are the undifferentiated cells that transform into the specialized cells that make up all of the tissues in organisms. With further research and understating, these cells can be used in medicine to cure a wide range of diseases. The most important type of stem cell to humans is the pluripotent stem cell which is usually obtained from human embryos. This has sparked controversy in many aspects of human life. In this paper, we will concentrate on animal and human stem cell research, and its impact on society. A Brief Description Of The Technology And An Explanation Of The Associated...
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...since then ethical questions been raised regarding the process and results. Some people are excited by the possibilities of genetic engineering while others believe the process is unethical and should be banned as they claim scientists are ‘playing god’. Ethics is the philosophical study of what is morally right or wrong. It is a system of moral principles. They affect how people make decisions and lead their lives. Philosophers tend to divide ethical theories into three areas; meta-ethics, normative ethics and applied ethics. This was first done by David Hume the philosopher who argued how we should look at ethical situations. “Meta-ethics looks at the meaning of language used in ethics, and raises questions about truth. Normative ethics tries to find practical moral standards that we can all live our lives by. These are also called ethical theories. Applied ethics is the application of theories about whether something is right or wrong in specific issues.” Distance Learning Centre, Ethics Pack, 2012. In the 1960’s a professor, Joseph Fletcher founded the theory Situation Ethics. In Situation Ethics right and wrong depend on the situation. There are no universal moral rules or rights, each case is unique and deserves a unique solution. “Situation Ethics is all about agape or love. You should always do the most loving thing” Distance Learning Centre, Ethics Pack, 2012. There are four working principles that Fletcher makes before setting out the situational ethics theory. Pragmatism...
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...FALFA11 Sec E The history of Stem Cell Research Legislation in the United States Adult stem cell research on humans began in the 1960's, first achieving success in the treatment of a patient with severe combined immunodeficiency disorder in 1968. Since the early 1970's, adult stem cells have been successfully used for treatment of immunodeficiency and leukemia. Many are in support of the scope, nature, necessity and urgency of stem cell research. If the possibility is there to preserve life and cure diseases such as Cancer, Leukemia, Heart Disease AIDS/HIV, the United States Federal Government should issue more funds towards stem cell research. Those very same people that are against stem cell research may someday find themselves in dire need stem cells to save their lives. A German AIDS patient was able to stop drugs he had been taking for 10 years after getting a transplant of stem cells from a donor with a rare gene variant known to resist the deadly disease. The transplant also cured his leukemia, researchers reported. Embryonic stem cell research does not appear to be ethical and it seems as if a life is being taken in the process. One can’t help but pose the question, “when do the actual stages of life begin”? A Blastocyst is a thin-walled hollow structure in early embryonic development that contains a cluster of cells called the inner cell mass from which the embryo arises. The outer layer of cells gives rise to the placenta and other supporting tissues needed for...
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...Stem Cell 2 The debate and controversy on stem cell research is so pervasive and passionate that we can get lost in the argument. Let us first explain what the definition of stem cell is: A stem cell is a “generic” cell that can make exact copies of itself indefinitely. In addition, a stem cell has the ability to produce specialized cells for various tissues in the body such as heart muscle, brain tissue, and liver tissue. Scientists are able to maintain stem cells forever, developing them into specialized cells as needed. There are two basic types of stem cell: Embryonic stem cells- these are obtained from either aborted fetuses or fertilized eggs that are left over from in vitro fertilization (IVF). They are useful for medical and research purposes because they can produce cells for almost every tissue in the body. Adult stem cells- these are not as versatile for research purposes because they are specific to certain cell types, such as blood, intestines, skin, and muscle. The term “adult stem cell” may be misleading because both children and adults have them (Healthline, online). The most controversial one is embryonic stem cells because it brings up a huge debate from research opponents who say it is wrong because it destroys human life and supporters say the embryos were going to be destroyed anyway, and that research from their cells holds the potential to cure debilitating diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Creating embryos intended only for research...
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...The control and manipulation of genetic material has become common place in our society. What was once the dream of science fiction authors and fans has become reality. Such topics as stem cell research, in vitro fertilization, and cloning have created quite a stir in scientific communities. However, these advancements do not come without a cost, or without ethical dilemmas. First, a definition of these terms is required. Following that, we will explore some topics and the ethics associated with them. Stem cells exist in all living things. These cells go on to either produce more stem cells or specialize to become different types of living tissue. Stem cells can be broken down into two main classifications, embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells, as the name would imply, are only found in developing embryos. These cells are the most versatile. On the other hand, adult stem cells are only able to transform into a select few types of tissue. (Bongso & Lee, 2005) In vitro fertilization involves the fertilization of an oocyte outside of the female reproductive system. Fertilization occurs in a Petri dish, after which time the embryo is reintroduced into a female uterus where it is allowed to implant and develop. (Seibel, 2008) Cloning is a scientific method of producing an offspring that is genetically identical to the parent. In cloning, only one parent is required, therefore it is considered to be asexual reproduction. (Rugnetta, 2012) All of these...
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...cloning technologies have been around for much longer than Dolly, though. There are two ways to make an exact genetic copy of an organism in a lab: artificial embryo twinning and somatic cell nuclear transfer. 1. Artificial Embryo Twinning Artificial embryo twinning is a relatively low-tech way to make clones. As the name suggests, this technique mimics the natural process that creates identical twins. In nature, twins form very early in development when the embryo splits in two. Twinning happens in the first days after egg and sperm join, while the embryo is made of just a small number of unspecialized cells. Each half of the embryo continues dividing on its own, ultimately developing into separate, complete individuals. Since they developed from the same fertilized egg, the resulting individuals are genetically identical. Artificial embryo twinning uses the same approach, but it is carried out in a Petri dish instead of inside the mother. A very early embryo is separated into individual cells, which are allowed to divide and develop for a short time in the Petri dish. The embryos are then placed into a surrogate mother, where they finish developing. Again, since all the embryos came from the same fertilized egg, they are genetically identical. 2. Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), also called nuclear transfer, uses a different approach than artificial embryo...
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...contents critical thinking thinking critically about ethical issues 1 ETHICAL REASONING 3 2 VALUES-BASED ETHICAL REASONING 9 3 RIGHTS-BASED ETHICAL REASONING 15 4 CONSEQUENCE-BASED ETHICAL REASONING 20 5 ERRORS IN ETHICAL REASONING 25 5.1 THE IS/OUGHT FALLACY 25 5.2 THE ARBITRARY LINE FALLACY 27 REVIEW OF TERMS 29 THINKING CRITICALLY ABOUT WHAT YOU SEE 29 THINKING CRITICALLY ABOUT WHAT YOU HEAR 30 THINKING CRITICALLY ABOUT WHAT YOU READ 30 THINKING CRITICALLY ABOUT WHAT YOU WRITE 35 THINKING CRITICALLY WHEN YOU DISCUSS 36 REASONING TEST QUESTIONS 36 T H I N K I N G C R I T I C A L L Y A B O U T E T H I C A L I S S U E S We don’t cover any particular step or steps in this section—you can, and should, apply all of your critical thinking skills when you think about ethical issues (hence, the entire template is bolded)! Template for critical analysis of arguments 1. What’s the point (claim/opinion/conclusion)? s Look for subconclusions as well. 2. What are the reasons/what is the evidence? s s Articulate all unstated premises. Articulate connections. 3. What exactly is meant by . . .? s s s Define terms. Clarify all imprecise language. Eliminate or replace “loaded” language and other manipulations. 4. Assess the reasoning/evidence: s s If deductive, check for truth/acceptability and validity. If inductive, check for truth/acceptability...
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...Biology guide First assessment 2016 Biology guide First assessment 2016 Diploma Programme Biology guide Published February 2014 Published on behalf of the International Baccalaureate Organization, a not-for-profit educational foundation of 15 Route des Morillons, 1218 Le Grand-Saconnex, Geneva, Switzerland by the International Baccalaureate Organization (UK) Ltd Peterson House, Malthouse Avenue, Cardiff Gate Cardiff, Wales CF23 8GL United Kingdom Website: www.ibo.org © International Baccalaureate Organization 2014 The International Baccalaureate Organization (known as the IB) offers four high-quality and challenging educational programmes for a worldwide community of schools, aiming to create a better, more peaceful world. This publication is one of a range of materials produced to support these programmes. The IB may use a variety of sources in its work and checks information to verify accuracy and authenticity, particularly when using community-based knowledge sources such as Wikipedia. The IB respects the principles of intellectual property and makes strenuous efforts to identify and obtain permission before publication from rights holders of all copyright material used. The IB is grateful for permissions received for material used in this publication and will be pleased to correct any errors or omissions at the earliest opportunity. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted...
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...culture = Through Roger keesing and Andrew Strathern's definition it is a system of shared ideas, rules and meanings that underlie and are expressed in the ways that human live. - This includes : law, beliefs, political economy, media and popular culture - this perceives ideas about what is normal and abnormal to society. " Culture is always changing and contested, not unified" Enthography as a method for studying drug use It is a process of observing, recoding and describing other peoples way of life through intimate participation the community being studied". - Participation observation, involving yourself in the life of the community , taking up the life of the other person, observing their actions, asking questions and learning what questions to ask. Zinberg's theory of drug use Effect of drug use is due to three variables and their interaction: 0. DRUG : The pharmacological action of the substance itself SET : The attitude of the person at time of use, including his or her personality structure, and what they expectation the drug to do. ( Individual attitudes are significantly influenced by social values and social...
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...Employment News 31 May - 6 June 2014 www.employmentnews.gov.in 21 UNION PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION EXAMINATION NOTICE NO. 09/2014-CSP (LAST DATE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS : 30/06/2014) DATE :31.05.2014 CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION, 2014 (Commission’s website-http://upsc.gov.in) F. No. 1/5/2013-E.I(B) : Preliminary Examination of the Civil Services Examination for recruitment to the Services and Posts mentioned below will be held by the Union Public Service Commission on 24th Aug., 2014 in accordance with the Rules published by the Department of Personnel & Training in the Gazette of India Extraordinary dated 31st May, 2014. (i) Indian Administrative Service. (ii) Indian Foreign Service. (iii) Indian Police Service. (iv) Indian P & T Accounts & Finance Service, Group ‘A’. (v) Indian Audit and Accounts Service, Group ‘A’. (vi) Indian Revenue Service (Customs and Central Excise), Group ‘A’. (vii) Indian Defence Accounts Service, Group ‘A’. (viii) Indian Revenue Service (I.T.), Group ‘A’. (ix) Indian Ordnance Factories Service, Group ‘A’ (Assistant Works Manager, Administration). (x) Indian Postal Service, Group ‘A’. (xi) Indian Civil Accounts Service, Group ‘A’. (xii) Indian Railway Traffic Service, Group ‘A’. (xiii) Indian Railway Accounts Service, Group 'A'. (xiv) Indian Railway Personnel Service, Group ‘A’. (xv) Post of Assistant Security Commissioner in Railway Protection Force, Group ‘A’ (xvi) Indian Defence Estates Service, Group...
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...NOTE: This PDF document has a handy set of “bookmarks” for it, which are accessible by pressing the Bookmarks tab on the left side of this window. ***************************************************** We are the last. The last generation to be unaugmented. The last generation to be intellectually alone. The last generation to be limited by our bodies. We are the first. The first generation to be augmented. The first generation to be intellectually together. The first generation to be limited only by our imaginations. We stand both before and after, balancing on the razor edge of the Event Horizon of the Singularity. That this sublime juxtapositional tautology has gone unnoticed until now is itself remarkable. We're so exquisitely privileged to be living in this time, to be born right on the precipice of the greatest paradigm shift in human history, the only thing that approaches the importance of that reality is finding like minds that realize the same, and being able to make some connection with them. If these books have influenced you the same way that they have us, we invite your contact at the email addresses listed below. Enjoy, Michael Beight, piman_314@yahoo.com Steven Reddell, cronyx@gmail.com Here are some new links that we’ve found interesting: KurzweilAI.net News articles, essays, and discussion on the latest topics in technology and accelerating intelligence. SingInst.org The Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence: think tank devoted to increasing...
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