The Idea of Cloning...

To begin with, cloning and other advances in genetics cause controversial arguments among people. This is because these high technologies, researches and studies are new, unexpected, and perhaps no one would have guessed that the science fiction movies we're watching today would one day become real. In addition, we don't know the long term effects of  cloning and the other advances in genetics which are being carried out these days. Without knowing the cloning process in depth people tend to take a side on the issue, which seems like an irrational thing to do. Ethical issues deals with what is right or wrong, good or bad. So people who are concerned with the ethical issues surrounding cloning need to be well informed before taking a side on the issue.     

There are two ways of cloning one is reproductive cloning (by differentiated cells) and the other one is therapeutic cloning (by undifferentiated cells). Reproductive cloning makes copies of the entire organism, for instance Dolly the sheep was an exact copy of her donor mother. Therapeutic cloning makes copies of embryonic stem cells which can be used in medical treatments. Therapeutic cloning made a big breakthrough in medical treatments. Doctors are now able to grow skin or new heart muscles in laboratories which can be implanted in to people who are suffering from serious burns or an ailing heart. 

Some people think that both forms of cloning, reproductive cloning and the therapeutic cloning is unacceptable. Usually conservative people defend this idea because for them cloning isn't a natural process on the contrary it is a process in which researchers have the power to manipulate nature and organisms. Therefore, these people say that cloning is wrong and it should not be done. Some other people think that both are acceptable or some are in favor of one. These people point out that researches in cloning can be beneficial for human life and human future, so that it is okay to clone organisms or cells. The majority of researchers and medical professionals do not approve the idea of reproductive cloning in humans. Although, recently therapeutic cloning has become more popular among medical professionals since it offers a better, more healthier future for humans. In my opinion, cloning and researches on cloning can be done, however the researchers should try to be aware of the risks and the consequences of their researches, actions as much as possible. If cloning turns out to affect organisms, species, or their environment in a bad way it should not be done. I think cloning organisms (reproductive cloning) should not be accepted since the cloned organism might have malfunctions in its body which causes it to have a difficult or a relatively short life. For instance Dolly the sheep couldn't live a long, healthy, normal life. Whereas, therapeutic cloning does not harm organisms and has many benefits for medical fields and for humans, so it is acceptable.  

Works Cited:
Pearson Baccalaureate Biology Standard level for the IB Diploma 

Are we all the same?

 

Do you think the advances in genetics and what we know about human genetics prove that humans are more similar to each other, or that humans are more different from each other?  


Human Genome Project shows that humans have very small number of DNA bases which makes them different from others, although these small differences give quite different physical apperances to each one of us, making us unique. These differences among human beings are in terms of skin color, facial features, or resistance to diseases. In my opinion no genetic group can be considered as superior to another, after all humans belong to the same species called homo sapiens. So how could a genetic group be superior to another if they belong to the same speicies? Plus there is a great likelihood that they have common ancestors, since different genetic groups have blended with each other, and produced hybrid offsprings. Nowadays, it is almost impossible to find a person who belongs only to a certain genetic group. We might look different from each other. I believe that we are mostly similar because most of us are ruled by common things such as feelings, emotions, opinions, logic, motives, and our ability to communicate, talk, these things makes us different from animals, other organisms and makes us human beings. Humans are very complex and different in their own ways which makes our species interesting and diverse. If we all looked exactly the same, think the same way and do the same things it would have been very boring and there wouldn't be too many things to observe. In such a case, there wouldn't probably be many inventions, creations, arts, different jobs, proffesions etc., so things would have been very different and our lives would have been more simple, less colorful, less developed (for example technology). Variety makes a species diverse, interesting and beautiful in its own way. People need to respect each other and appreciate the difference between themselves and others. They should be aware of the beauty which lies in the variety of our species.


Works Cited:
Pearson Baccalaureate Biology Standard level for the IB Diploma 

Chromosomal Abnormalities and Karyotyping

A karyotype determines whether an unborn child has abnormalities in his/her chromosome number. They will have chromosomal abnormality if their chromosome number is less or more than 46, this happens when there are defects with the division of the egg or zygote. For example if the baby has an additional chromosome in his/her 21st chromosome, this defect is called trisomy 21 also known as Down Syndrome. The additional or the lack of chromosomes in other numbered chromosomes causes different abnormalities or defects. A karyotype can be done in two ways; amniocentesis and chorionic villis sampling, both of these methods are invasive as well as expensive, so it is recommended that they might be done only in cases in which there is a more likelihood of a chromosomal abnormality. For example there is a more likelihood in women who get pregnant after the age of 35. Doctors should decide whether or not to do a karyotype to their patients, because it's their profession so they have a deep knowledge about the issue. They also know who has more risks or tendencies towards having a baby who has chromosomal abnormality. Also a karyotype could be done if the future parents are concerned, because the pregnant women shouldn't be in stress or doubt during her pregnancy. After the results of the karyotype the parents are the ones who should decide whether to keep the baby or not, because it only concerns them not anyonelse.  A doctors job is to explain/inform the parents about the results of the karyotype and then let them decide on either keeping or aborting the baby. If the baby has a chromosomal abnormality the doctors should clearly and honestly tell the parents about the difficulties/problems them and the baby are going to face. The parents were the ones who gave life to that baby and they are the ones who will be responsible of the baby when he/she is born. It is a very though decision which the parents should think thoroughly. 

First of all I would take all the preventions as possible such as not being pregnant after the age of 35. The child who has the chromosomal abnormality would have a hard life in terms of many things such as medical problems and wouldn't be able to live in a normal, happy way so I probably wouldn't give birth to the baby. However I don't think I can live with this burden so later on I would also probably kill myself, because I'm not a person who can forget such things and move on with their life. If I am in such a situation I'll suffer either way so the best thing for me is just to go and jump out of building.  

Down Syndrome

Sickle Cell Anemia and Malaria Correlation

The case of sickle cell anemia and malaria are an example of correlation without causation. There is a similar relationship among them, however one of them doesn't specifically cause the other one. The sickle cell mutation is the error in the DNA code of the gene that tells the body how to form hemoglobin (hb), which is a molecule functions for carrying oxygen in our blood. The sickle cell genes (mutated genes) are in the sickle form and cannot carry as much as oxygen as a normal hemoglobin gene, thus leads to sickle cell anemia.

 A person can either get both copies of the sickle cell genes or none of the sickle genes from parents. Getting two copies of the sickle cell gene causes the sickle cell anemia in that person, however if a person inherits only one copy of the sickle gene he/she is actually in an advantageous stage since sickle genes are resistant to malaria. The natural selection occurs when humans are getting none, one or two copies of the mutated genes. Humans who only got one copy of the mutated gene are called carriers, and they do not suffer from anemia plus they're immune to the malaria disease.  The parasitic mosquito which causes malaria cannot function its life cycles and cause the malaria, in a human body who has sickle genes, because the mutated gene they contain (HbS) doesn't allow the malaria parasite to ingest hemoglobin. It  can also be said that the malaria parasite fails to grow in an abnormal hemoglobin due to the lack of potassium. 

Anopheles which cause malaria   

On the left: normal red blood cell (HBB),

On the right: sickled red blood cell (HbS)

Bibliography:
"Evolution: Library: A Mutation Story." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Web. 11 Feb. 2012. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/01/2/l_012_02.html>.


Bose, Debopriya. "Sickle Cell and Malaria." Buzzle Web Portal: Intelligent Life on the Web. Web. 11 Feb. 2012. <http://www.buzzle.com/articles/sickle-cell-and-malaria.html>.

Protecting Nature or Protecting the Livelihoods of People?

These days, pollution based on human activities have become a thread for earths' existence. Since the industrial revolution people have started to use resources blindly, acted carelessly and polluted earth more and more. Of course humans have needs that they have to do to continue their life (like farming, cutting down trees for wood, building new hospitals, schools, etc.), however they should be responsible enough to conserve, recycle things and protect natural areas as much as they can, or else they are going to leave a horrible world to their children. Humans should act even more wisely/consciously, because serious changes (people weren't aware of these changes earlier) are occuring on earth (such as climate changes) which are causing global warming. Researches show that these changes are mostly caused because of human activities. Humans are disturbing the natural balance on earth, and they have no right for behaving in such a way, they're not only destroying their future but they are also destroying the other living organisms, future as well. People should have precautionary principles, and act more sensible, it is important that each individual starts to do what they have to do in order to protect the nature!

Is it unethical to cut down trees to measure biomass?

In the earlier times (like approximately 100 years ago) scientists used to kill animals and dry them in order to measure their biomass, however as the time passed humans became more sensitive/protective of animals and animal rights. So nowadays it isn't acceptable to kill animals to measure their biomass, but still scientists are cutting down trees to measure their biomass. Trees are also living organisms, just because they are fixed/stationary doesn't give the right for scientists to kill them, so I believe this is an unethical thing to do. They should find some other way to measure their biomass, there should be a different solution, plus cutting down trees also disturbs the natural order on earth, trees (producers) are vital for consumers since consumers depend on them. Things on earth are rapidly changing and globalization is one of the thing which affect this change the most, the understanding of ethics are also changing with the changing society and their changing ideologies. Hopefully soon enough people would realize that cutting down trees isn't any different than killing animals, people should be aware of the deficiencies this act might cause and people should be informed about the importance of trees in our lives.

Was Linnaeus a racist?

Carl Linnaneus