genetic engineering Socratic Seminar AoL

{To be Held on Thursday December 19th}

LT: I can construct an argument on the impact of genetic engineering on the human race and society today.

Objective: For our genetics unit you have been studying heredity and the probability of traits being passed from
one generation to the next. What if as a baby your genome was altered? Would you alter the genes of your own
baby if you had the option of avoiding a premature death? These questions and more surrounding genetic
engineering and genetic equity will be researched and discussed during your socratic seminar AoL.

Guiding Discussion Question:

Is genetic engineering helpful or hurtful for the human race?
Resources: In order to prepare for your socratic seminar you will be using the resources provided in the
Genetic Engineering BBK AFL - Genetic Engineering AFL . The resource links provided supply the evidence
to support your claim.

➔ Format for the Socratic Seminar: 1) Fishbowl style (inner and outer circle).
2) Four rotating rounds between inner and outer circle.
3) Students in the inner circle engage in dialogue.
4) Students in the outer circle assess the students in the inner circle
and record notes to be able to be prepared for the next rotation.

➔ Grading for Socratic Seminar: 1) Genetic Engineering BBK AFL.

2) Evidence sheet for socratic seminar AoL.
3) Peer/teacher assessment during seminar.

CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS:

Exemplary Proficient Developing Beginning
Expectations
4 3 2 1

Genetic engineering BBK AFL

was completed in its entirety
prior to the socratic seminar
AoL. The BBK AFL was
completed prior to the deadline
Genetic Engineering and clearly outlined evidence to
BBK AFL support a claim about genetic
engineering. The synthesis
response elaborated on the topic.
Genetic engineering BBK AFL
was completed in its entirety
prior to the socratic seminar
AoL. The BBK AFL was
completed prior to the deadline
and outlined evidence to
support a claim about genetic
engineering.
Genetic engineering BBK
Genetic engineering BBK
AFL was almost completed in
was either not turned in, or
its entirety prior to the socratic
was turned in but missed the
seminar AoL. The BBK AFL
deadline. Or the BBK AFL
was at least started, but the
was missing evidence.
evidence was lacking.
 Evidence sheet for the socratic
seminar AoL included a clearly
stated claim, aligned evidence to
Evidence Sheet for
support, and reliable sources.
Socratic Seminar
The student shared five or more
claims.
Evidence sheet for the socratic
Evidence sheet for the socratic
seminar AoL included claims,
seminar AoL attempted to
aligned evidence to support, and Evidence sheet was either
include claims, aligned
reliable sources. The student incomplete, missing, or had
evidence to support, and
shared at least four claims. three or less claims.
reliable sources. The student
shared less than four claims.

Peer assessment was provided

for another student during the
socratic seminar AoL process,
AND student turned in peer
Peer/Teacher
assessment sheet. Peer
Assessment of
assessment sheet was completed
Performance during
in its entirety and included
Socratic Seminar
written feedback.
Peer assessment was provided
for another student during the
socratic seminar AoL process,
AND student turned in peer
assessment sheet. Peer
assessment sheet was
completed.
Student attempted to provide
Peer assessment was not
feedback to a peer during the
provided for another student,
socratic seminar AoL process.
nor was a peer assessment
Student may not have turned
sheet turned in.
in a peer assessment sheet.

Socratic Seminar Evidence Sheet

Guiding Question: Is genetic engineering helpful or hurtful for the human race?

Response: Some forms of genetic engineering, such as CRISPR-Cas9 are beneficial to humanity, but others
are unnecessary or potentially harmful.

Key Terms to Define:

Genetic equity - that our claims on one another and our mutual obligations derive from our status as
beings of a particular sort and not from contingent features of our lives, such as gender, race or genetic
constitution.

Bioethics - the ethics of medical and biological research.

Claim: Evidence: Source:

Example…
Chimeras are unethical and therefore are
harmful to the human race, as the lines of
Homo sapiens are blurred.
“The ethical concerns focused on the NPR article: Human Pig embryos
possibility the human cells could create
animals that had human brain cells or NPR online article: Controversial Research on
Creation of Human-Animal Embryos
tissues, blurring the line between the
species.”

It is said by many scientists that “With every passing year, the https://www.healthline.com/healt
cloning can never be made safe.
Cloning was tested on animals,
such as sheep, and it was
successful. However, there are any
harmful after effects of cloning.
Cloning is unnecessary. Although
it may seem fascinating, cloning
humans will not benefit the human
race and has a multitude of risks
and concerns tied with it. It may be
possible at some point, but that it
doesn't mean it should happen.
There are downsides to cloning,
and not many valid reasons to do
besides pure experiment. It won't
benefit society greatly, and has the
possibility of causing harm. It is
also deemed unethical by many.
Three parent children are children
whose mothers egg was taken out,
nucleus was replaced by another
person's land then fertilized by the
father's sperm. This is done when a
mothers nucleu shas risk of
carrying or does carry a disease.
Although this procedure can
prevent some diseases from
occurring, there’s no telling what
can happen to the child in the
future. There are risks that include
neurological disorders and
metabolic conditions.
Crispr-Cas9 is a genome editing
technique. It is a powerful
technology that can cure diseases
in the human genome. It involves
question is less “could we” clone a h-news/research-for-human-clon
human than “should we.” ing
“ But studies in mice have Three Parent Children -
shown that mixtures of Nature.com
mitochondria can result in
neurological disorders or
metabolic conditions.”
“A three-page editorial
accompanying the study notes
that the researchers had the
baby's parents sign a consent
form acknowledging that their
egg was undergoing an
experimental technique. But the
form only described the
procedure superficially”
“The value of the experiment
will be limited if scientists
cannot track the boy as he
grows, Egli says. “It looks like a
rush to use this as a treatment
and telling patients that this is
the treatment, during a time
when we still know very little
about what the outcomes are.”
“CRISPR-Cas9 has triggered a https://www.smh.com.au/technol
revolution in which laboratories ogy/crispr-will-save-lives-and-tec
around the world are using the hnology-can-t-come-soon-enoug
technology for innovative h-20180225-p4z1n3.html
an enzyme that can cut DNA. it
locates the target DNA that carries
the virus, and cuts it, which
disables the virus. It can also
disable genes to observe their
functions. This can be done in
cultured and stem cells, as well as
eggs. It can be used to target
multiple genes at once. This can
combat many diseases.
Crispr-Cas9 has the capability of
removing and preventing diseases
in the human genome. It can cut
out strands that carry viruses and
replace them. This is revolutionary
and can save many lives and rid
them of the burden of their illness.
It has few risks and has made
huge advances in society and the
medical field.
applications in biology”
“It’s the closest we’ve ever come
to a cure for cancer. We’ve already
been able to cure HIV infection in
animal models, and even in human
cell cultures, by removing the viral
genes that insert themselves into
our DNA. Incurable genetic
diseases, like Duchenne’s
muscular dystrophy, could soon be
a thing of the past. CRISPR has
already been used to cure the
disease in rats.”