PHIL 280 -- Spring, 2002

Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) of The Human Genome Project

Tentative Class Schedule

Day -

Week

Date

Topic/Activity

Assignment Due for class/

Quizzes, Papers, Etc.

(K=Kitcher; R=Ridley; W=Weston)

T - 1

1/29

Introduction to course; What is the Human Genome Project? Assign paper

 

H - 1

1/31

Moral reasoning – discuss paper and readings

1-2 page paper due; W – Chapters 1,2

 

T - 2

2/5

Ethical problem solving

W – Chapters 3-5

H - 2

2/7

QUIZ #1 - Ethics

The Human Genome Project – what is it? What does it promise?

Differing perspectives of it

QUIZ #1; Website: http://www.ornl.gov/hgmis

K - Chapter 1 (pp. 13-22)

R – Foreword, Introduction (pp. 1-10)

Handout: Dula; Jackson (1/2 class on each)

T - 3

2/12

History of genetics/ genetic disease

Concept of genetic malady

R – Chapter 3; K – Chapter 2 (pp. 23-29)

K – Chapter 9; Handout: Culver or Berger (all)

H - 3

2/14

Basic genetics and molecular biology

Determinism

K – Chapter 2

R – Chapter 4

T - 4

2/19

Determinism, genes, and environment

R – Chapters 4, 5; K – Chapter 11

Handout: de Waal (all)

H - 4

2/21

Genetic testing

K – Chapter 3

 

T - 5

2/26

Concerns about genetic technology

Short video: Fragile X testing

K – Chapter 10

Handout: Lippman – Worrying…. (all)

Handouts: Silver; Watson (all)

H - 5

2/28

Eugenics

K – Chapters 8 (new), 9 (review)

R – Chapters 9, 21

Handouts: Editorial and response re: China (all)

T - 6

3/5

QUIZ #2 – genetics/molecular biology

Video – "Genetically Correct: Ensuring Perfect Babies"

QUIZ #2

 

 

H - 6

3/7

The disability rights critique

Case Discussion: Deaf Parent Hypothetical

Handouts: Green; Parens & Asch (all)

Web lecture – Denise Karuth

Prepare to argue deaf case (1/2 each)

T - 7

3/12

The disability rights critique (continued)

Short video: Lesch-Nyhan syndrome

Handout: Purdy -- Loving Future People

 

H - 7

3/14

Genetic testing in adults – e.g. BRCA genes

 

R – Chapter 5 (review)

Handouts: Fasouliotis & Schenker; Geller et al. (all)

 

 

SPRING BREAK 3/16-24

 

 

  

PHIL 280 -- Spring, 2002 (continued)

Revised 3/15/02

 

Day - Week

Date

Topic/Activity

Assignment Due for class/

Quizzes, Papers, Etc.

(K=Kitcher; R=Ridley)

T - 8

3/26

BRCA gene testing (continued)

Handouts: Fasouliotis & Schenker; Geller et al.; Parthasarathy; Purdy

H - 8

3/28

Midterm Exam

Midterm Exam

 

T - 9

4/2

Genetic discrimination, health insurance, and the law

K – Chapter 6;

Handouts: Greely; Rothenburg

H - 9

4/4

Gene therapy – what is it?

Somatic, germline

K – Chapter 5

Handouts: Hedgecoe

T - 10

4/9

Gene therapy (continued)

Handouts: Anderson; Billings et al.; Marshall

R – Chapter 18

H - 10

4/11

**Gene therapy/ Enhancement

Student presentations

Handouts: Walters & Gage; McGee; Juengst; Cole-Turner

T - 11

4/16

**Genes and behavior: should research on the

"gay gene" continue?

Student presentations

Handouts: LeVay & Hamer; Byne: Hamer and response by Rice et al; Schüklenk et al.; Stein

H - 11

4/18

Stem cells

Handouts: Page of terms; **Scientific American articles 4/99, 1/02; Science articles (292:1299; 293:1242-5, 1401, 1966-7, 1567, 2367-8; 295:1619, 1816, 1818-20); The Scientist 2/18/02:19; Washington Post: 9/8/01; Ithaca J: 3/7/02

T - 12

4/23

**Cloning – "Therapeutic" and reproductive

cloning

Student presentations

Handouts: Lanza et al.; and letters and reply;

Kass – charge to the President's Council on Bioethics; Ellen Goodman editorial

H - 12

4/25

Cloning – reproductive cloning

Short video – human reproductive cloning

Handouts: Green/Shuster; Jonas; Davis; Midgley

T - 13

4/30

Science and social context

Conflicts of interest – research and funding

Handouts: Lippman – The Politics of Health; Shenk, article in The Nation; Science

295:599

H - 13

5/2

Who owns life? Propriety and Property – The Tissue Market Meets the Courts

Handouts: Andrews and Nelkin; Kolata

 

T - 14

5/7

Who owns life?

**Patents and the Canavan gene story

Student presentations

Handouts: Science 290:1062

Merz; McGee; Merz & Cho

H - 14

5/9

Finish up

 

 

 

FINAL EXAM – Thursday, May 16, 7-10 P.M.