perry
Bioethics of Genetics Debate
Pairs of students will debate one of several issues in genetics: First Student listed is
affirmative side. Second student is negative (refuting) side.
 A couple has one son with Tay-Sachs. In their second pregnancy, prenatal
diagnosis indicates that the fetus has Tay-Sachs. The parents choose to abort the
fetus. (Group 1 and 2) Jared/Rob and John David/Jeannie
 Two known carriers of Sickle Cell Anemia decide to have a child. (Group 3,15)
Mike/Stephen and Annie/Paul
 Nathaniel Wu should not be hired by IPC due to the presence of the
Huntington's gene on his chromosome #4. (BSCS) (Group 4,14) Kristen/Sophia
and Shawn/Andrew
 The parents of Baby Doe decide to withhold feeding and medical treatments
because of a serious genetic disorder. (Group 5, 16) Candice/Hope and
Michelle/Taylor
 A husband wishes to remove eggs from his wife's dying body to be fertilized by
his sperm in vitro and then implanted into a surrogate mother. Should we allow
this request? (Group 6, 7) Randi/ Anne C and Jake/Ashley
 Your grandmother and aunt both were diagnosed with breast cancer at a young
age and tested positive for a breast cancer gene. Your mother is currently cancer
free, but did not get tested. Should your 20 year old daughter get tested for the
gene? (Group 8, 13) Anne G/Alex and Brianna/Kaia and Erica/Jessie
 The first cloning of a human embryo has recently occurred. Should the medical
community allow the use of this technique? (Group 9, 10) Chris/Jessica and
Chelsey/Richie
 Legislation is pending that would mandate convicted felons be tested for various
DNA markers indicating a possible cause for criminal behavior. Take a stand on
this piece of legislation. (Group 11, 12) Lee/Darla and Allyson/Alyssa
Step 1: research on your topic—1s supports the topic statement. 1r refutes the topic
statement (aka affirmative vs. negative sides of prompt).
Step 2: debate the topic on the discussion board, using first names of partner under
subject (see discussion board for example). Each student is to spend ONE minute
replying to debate partner. Continue for 20 minutes. Debate winners will be selected the
following day in class.
Grading Rubric:
1
2
3
4
5
6
research process (p)
debate process (p)
debate results (p)
personal feelings
use of knowledge/facts
proper debate etiquette
Scale:
6
3
3
3
3
3
Number of pts
20-21
18-20
15-17
11-14
5-10
Grade
50
45
40
30
20
perry
7
winner of debate
+3
0-4
10