BIO 1510 Winter 2018 – Scientific Argumentation – Using CRISPR-Cas9 to Edit Embryo Genes

Name: _____________________________________________________________ Date: ________________________________

Position assigned (pro or con): _______________________ TA initials: _________________________________

Facts (and sources – see next page for list – just note Article #1, Article #2, etc.)

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Predictions or Potentials (and sources)

Values and Ethics

 Articles provided:
1. Pollack, A. (2014, March 3). A powerful new way to edit DNA. The New York Times. retrieved from:
https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/04/health/a-powerful-new-way-to-edit-dna.html
2. Kahn, J. (2015, November 8). The CRISPR quandary. The New York Times. retrieved from:
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/15/magazine/the-crispr-quandary.html
3. Belluck, P. (2017, August 4). Gene editing for ‘designer babies’? Highly unlikely, scientists say. The
New York Times. retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/04/science/gene-editing-
embryos-designer-babies.html
4. Valasquez-Manoff, M. (2017, June 17). The upside of bad genes. The New York Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/17/opinion/sunday/crispr-upside-of-bad-genes.html

Your Reflection:

 What did you learn about CRISPR-Cas9 and gene editing?

 What is your final position on using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing on human embryos and why?

 Is this (scientific argumentation) a useful method for coming to a decision about a scientific issue?
Why or why not?

 What did you learn from this exercise?