1. Chapter Six: Genetic Engineering, Stem Cell Research, and Human Cloning Review Applying Ethics: A Text with Readings (10 th ed.) Julie C. Van Camp, Jeffrey Olen, Vincent Barry Cengage Learning/Wadsworth

2. What is Genetic Engineering? What are some of the scientific alterations possible for humans? – –Gene Therapy – –Stem cell research – –Human cloning What are some of the scientific alterations possible for animal and plant life? – –Modified grains tolerant of disease and drought – –Cloned animals

3. What are some of the reasons why we might want to clone humans? Creating replacement tissue (spare parts) Producing a fully developed human being for infertile couples Reproducing outstanding humans in history

4. What are examples of the moral and legal issues surrounding cloning? Do people have a right to reproduce by any available means? Do other societal concerns override any such rights? Will there be harmful effects on the cloned twin? How will family relationships be redefined? Could persons be cloned without their consent? Would cloning be immoral because it is unnatural?

5. Stem Cell Research What are examples of the overlapping ethical Issues with cloning and abortion? How do the issues and controversies compare between adult and embryonic stem cell research? Is federal funding appropriate or should this research should be funded only with private funds, due to the ethical controversy?

6. The Case against Perfection Michael J. Sandel What questions should be considered in weighing the ethics of rapid developments in technology? –, –Traditional questions, which verge on theology – –Moral status of nature – –Proper stance of human beings toward the given world Why are familiar appeals to autonomy, fairness, individual rights inadequate?

7. Moral Status of Cloning Humans Michael Tooley What is his position on cloning? –There is nothing intrinsically immoral about human cloning What reasons does he give to support this position? –No one has a right to a genetically unique nature –Cloning does not restrict the open future of individuals Why does he believe that cloning promises to be very beneficial to society? –Happier and healthier individuals –Solution to infertility –Saving lives

8. The Morality of Killing Human Embryos Bonnie Steinbock How is the controversy over embryonic stem cell research similar to that over abortion? – –When does human life begin? – –What is the moral status of the human embryo? What are the different approaches she considers to moral status? How does she reach her conclusion that it is permissible to use human embryos in research as they lack moral status?

9. Stem Cells, Biotechnology, and Human Rights: Implications for a Posthuman Future Paul Lauritzen What is his objection to the current debate on stem cell research? – –Too much narrow focus on stem cell research, whether embryonic or adult What does he urge that we focus on instead? – –prospect of transforming the contours of human life – –our attitudes toward the natural world