Assignment #1 Reflection journal

This week’s template topic is Free-market Reproduction, often called ‘designer babies.’ So what you will be discussing is the morality of the free market in determining the gender, intelligence, height, etc of a baby with the ability of genetic and IVF manipulation for those who have enough $.  So in a way, this is similar to the Eugenics week but instead focuses on the free market aspect of the capitalism aspect as well as the general ability to design a baby. Template will be uploaded

http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/29/the-baby-market/

Assignment #2 Discussion

Stem cells are undifferentiated, primitive cells with the ability both to multiply and to differentiate into specific kinds of cells. Stem cells hold the promise of allowing researchers to grow specialized cells or tissue, which could be used to treat injuries or disease (e.g., spinal cord injuries, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, strokes, burns).” (Slevin, 2010)

Choose ONE of the following issues and support or reject it with Virtue Ethics and post to its thread with supporting evidence. Discuss what you feel are the potential benefits of stem cell research for Alzheimer’s patients and their families.

1. Share your perspective on the stem cell debate regarding donation of surplus embryos to couples for “embryo adoption.”
2. Why is the task of disposing unused frozen human embryos different from disposing of other medical tissue?
3. Discuss why you think embryonic stem cell research “crosses a moral boundary.”