BIOL 365 Bioethics and New Embryology
Bioethics is a multidisciplinary study that examines the ethical treatment of patients in a medical environment. The field of bioethics emerged in the 1960s and is an important facet of both biology and philosophy. The field of bioethics developed in an environment of mutual discussion between people of faith and more secular philosophers. Technological advancements such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), genetic engineering, and stem cell research have opened the door to many healthy debates about technological capabilities and the development of the embryo. To make informed judgments and participate effectively in debating these issues each person should understand the science behind the ethical debates Advances in biology and medicine mean that there are important personal issues that arise concerning questions about the start and end of life. The course is not about deciding what is right or wrong, but to stimulate a significant discussion about issues such as: Should we encourage/regulate IVF? Should we allow individuals to choose the sex of their child before it is implanted? Should we test and alter genes of an embryo? When does human life begin? Should we be allowed to genetically engineer embryos to provide the characteristics we desire (eye color, intelligence, etc)? Is therapeutic cloning acceptable and reproductive cloning off limits?
Credits
3
Offered
Every year