Introduction

Science continues to provide us with information and answers to questions that have stumped humans for thousands of years. Sometimes we learn things at such a rapid pace that many don't feel like we're ready to handle the information. There are serious ethical considerations to be made relating to genetics and cloning.

What follows are a series of articles and images for you to review and react to. Consider these articles in the context of the novel Frankenstein. What are the implications of this new information? Should we proceed in this field of study? Are the experiments or results in line with your morals?

Let's find out...

Article #1: Ethical storm as scientist becomes first man to clone HIMSELF

Article #2: FDA approves human brain implant devices

Article #3: MPs have voted to allow the creation of “frankenstein” embryos for research into tackling diseases

Article #4: Monkeys control a robot arm with thoughts

Article #5: Team creates rat heart using cells of baby rats

Article #6: Synthetic DNA on the brink of yielding new life forms

So, now that you've read those articles, now what?

Questions for consideration:

• Do you think that there are things that scientists have not considered when they make advancements like this?

• What kinds of considerations do you think still need to be made?

• Are you concerned with the ethics involved?

• Is this kind of science okay or not? Why or why not?

• Are these good ideas? Why or why not?

• Would you allow yourself to be implanted with a computer chip? Why or why not?

• Are there areas of research related to this that you would like to see more advancement? What might that mean to mankind?

Consider all of the questions above and craft a written response that incorporates your ideas into a single essay.