Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor and Lecturer
Dr Mianna Lotz
Contact via Mianna.Lotz@mq.edu.au
By appointment
Tutor
Dr Wendy Carlton
Contact via wendy.carlton@mq.edu.au
By appointment
Tutor
Dr Ruby Catsanos
By appointment
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Credit points |
Credit points
4
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MBiotech or MBiotechMCom or MBioBus or MSc or MPH or HSYP801 or HSYP802
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit introduces students to ethical issues raised by current developments in biotechnology, especially in the sphere of genetic technology. Topics include the ethics of genetic technology in human medicine and reproduction, including genetic screening/testing; genetic therapies (somatic and germ-cell); genetic enhancement; and cloning; and the impact of biotechnology on other aspects of human, animal and environmental well-being. Students develop a firm grounding in the ethical principles, theories and frameworks with which to analyse a variety of biotechnological applications, in addition to the requirements of scientific and academic conduct and the carrying out of responsible research.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
NOTE: It is expected that students will complete ALL ASSESSMENT COMPONENTS in this unit. You do not need to have passed each assessment to pass the unit, but it is expected that all assessments are attempted.
General Submission Procedure: Essays and presentations (if applicable) must be submitted via TurnItIn at the correct link provided on the Unit iLearn site. Please note that there will be separate links for CBMS807 and PHL260 students. Please ensure that you use the correct link for your assessment!
Extensions: Extensions must be sought via the MQ Special Consideration application procedure, in advance of the due date. Extensions will only be granted for medical or equivalent reasons, supported by documentation (medical certificate or equivalent). Please note that workload in other units, and employment outside of university, will not be accepted as grounds for an extension.
LATE SUBMISSION POLICY: Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, the following will apply:
(a) Late penalty – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date;
(b) No assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. (c) No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. online test.
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
---|---|---|---|
Online post | 5% | No | 6 Aug, 10am |
Timed Online Test | 20% | No | 27 Aug |
Essay | 25% | No | 21 Sept OR 9 Nov (11.59pm) |
Essay Self-Assessment | 10% | No | With your essay |
Participation | 15% | No | Continuous |
Exam | 25% | No | University examinations period |
Due: 6 Aug, 10am
Weighting: 5%
As well as introducing themselves online on the ilearn Discussion Board, students watch a film clip and post an online comment on the film.
Post a message on the ilearn Discussion Board for this Unit, containing the following: (i) Begin by introducing yourself. Include the following information: Name (and nickname or preferred name); Where you are from (locally or internationally); What you are studying at university (subjects, not degree); Why you are studying this unit/what you hope to get out of it.
(ii) Then add a comment about one or two of the issues or questions that you felt were raised by or in the film from Lecture 1.
This task will be assessed according to the following criteria: Evidence of engagement with film; relevance of issue identified in film; clarity of expression. A marking rubric and detailed task outline for this task will be supplied on the iLearn homepage.
Due: 27 Aug
Weighting: 20%
45-minute timed online test: case study application of emerging skills.
The test is designed to assess your ability to identify ethical principles and apply an ethical style of reasoning and argument to a case study.
The test will be accessible for 24 hours from 9AM MONDAY 27 AUGUST until 9AM TUESDAY 28 AUGUST. You MUST complete the test within that time. You will have ONLY ONE OPPORTUNITY to commence and complete the test, within the 45 minutes allowable time. Further information will be provided in class.
This task will be assessed according to the following criteria: demonstration of familiarity with unit content and readings; understanding of core theories to be examined; quality of analysis in application of theories to case study. A marking rubric and detailed task outline for this task will be supplied on the iLearn homepage.
Due: 21 Sept OR 9 Nov (11.59pm)
Weighting: 25%
The essay task is designed to test your ability to engage with an ethical issue in depth. Essay writing tests your ability to express, analyse and organise key ideas clearly and systematically, and to develop an argument in a sustained way. All students will be required to submit one essay (word length: 1800 words.) Essay topics will be distributed at least one month before each due date, and will be available on the unit iLearn. You may choose whether to do the first or the second essay (ie Sept or Nov deadline), but you may only select from the relevant question sets (ie first batch of questions for Sept deadline, second batch of questions for Nov deadline).
This task will be assessed according to the following criteria: Mechanics (length, structure, written expression); Comprehension (clear, detailed and accurate exposition of main points); Critical Analysis (quality of evaluation of strengths and weaknesses in examined positions/arguments; development of well supported critical analysis and conclusion of your own); and Sources (relevance and proper citation practices). A marking rubric and detailed task outline for this task will be supplied on the iLearn homepage.
Due: With your essay
Weighting: 10%
Complete and submit (with your essay) a self-assessment of your essay, using the essay rubric and criteria and including a short (1-2 paragraphs) general statement addressing the following points: (i) what you regard to be the strengths in your essay; (ii) where you can see weaknesses and/or room for improvement; (iii) questions, issues or aspects of the task that you had special difficulties with.
NOTE: This must be submitted as part of the single file you submit as your essay submission. Please use the essay marking rubric provided on iLearn under 'Assessment'.
This task will be assessed according to the following criteria: Quality, clarity and accuracy of self-assessment. The essay marking rubric and task outline for this task will be supplied on the iLearn homepage.
Due: Continuous
Weighting: 15%
You must participate in 80% (8/10) of the tutorials and contribute to the discussions, including by asking and answering questions.
This task will be assessed according to the following criteria: Engagement (attendance/participation frequency meets requirements); Quality of contributions; Demonstration of familiarity with topic and readings. A marking rubric and detailed task outline for this task will be supplied on the iLearn homepage.
Due: University examinations period
Weighting: 25%
Short compulsory closed book examination (1.5 hours) will be held in the examination period at the end of semester and is designed to test your general familiarity with the main ideas and issues covered in the lectures, tutorials and readings. It will consist of closed-book, mini-essay questions.
This task will be assessed according to the following criteria: Demonstration of familiarity with unit content and readings. A marking rubric and detailed task outline for this task will be supplied on the iLearn homepage.
There will be one 2-hour lecture per week, and for internal students, one 1-hour tutorial per week.
Please check Timetables for confirmation of days/times and venues.
While the contact hours are fewer in this unit than for other CBMS units, students are expected to complete 3.5 hours of compulsory reading and private study per week in this unit, additional to lecture and tutorial attendance and any essay/test/exam preparation time.
REQUIRED READING: All required reading in this unit can be found in the PHL260/CBMS807 Bioethics and Biotechnology unit reader, available via online order (Print On Demand). Please use the link on the unit iLearn site to order your copy. Please do not delay with ordering your copy, as there can be delays and there is a test in Week 5 so you will need to have purchased your own copy of the Reader well in advance of that.
The readings contained in the Reader are compulsory reading for this unit. You will be expected to keep up with the readings throughout semester, and tutorial discussion will presume prior familiarity with the relevant readings.
RECOMMENDED READING: A list of Additional Readings, for use for your essays, exam study and as supplementary reading throughout the semester, will be available on the unit iLearn site under "Supplementary Reading". Asterisked sources on that list are available on Reserve in the Library.
SCHEDULE OF CLASSES AND REQUIRED READINGS
Note: The following are REQUIRED readings for this unit. All readings listed below are in the Unit Reader. Where more than one reading is listed priority is to be given to reading(s) marked ‘*’, but it is expected that all readings listed here will have been read by the end of the unit.
SECTION I: (WEEKS 1–5) FRAMEWORKS FOR ETHICAL REASONING
TOPIC 1 WEEK 1 (July 30): Introduction/overview of course. Introducing the process and principles of ethical reasoning.
Reading:
*Stephen Cohen: ‘What is Ethics?
*James Rachels: ‘What is Morality?’
NOTE: NO TUTORIALS in Week 1
TOPIC 2 WEEK 2 (Aug 6): Overview of key moral theories and their applications to issues in biotechnology.
Reading:
* Damian Grace and Stephen Cohen: Excerpt from Business Ethics: Problems and Cases.
* Anne Thomson: ‘Moral Principles and Moral Theories’.
NOTE: Online Discussion Exercise due: by 10am today.
TOPIC 3 WEEK 3 (Aug 13): The role of ethics and social values in science
Reading:
* E. Emanuel et al: ‘What Makes Clinical Research Ethical?’ Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Vol. 283, No. 2 (May24/31: 2701-2711.
* Glass: ‘The Ethical Basis of Science.’
TOPIC 4 WEEK 4 (Aug 20): The moral legacy of eugenics and key principles of justice in biotechnology.
Reading:
* Buchanan et al: Excerpt from ‘Eugenics and Its Shadow’
* Wikler and Barondess: ‘Bioethics and Anti-Bioethics in Light of Nazi Medicine: What Must We Remember?’
Buchanan et al: Excerpt from ‘Genes, Justice and Human Nature.’
WEEK 5 (Aug 27): TIMED ONLINE TEST: Must be completed within 24 hours from 9AM MONDAY 27 AUGUST until 9AM TUESDAY 28 AUGUST.
NOTE: NO LECTURE OR TUTORIALS this week
SECTION II (WEEKS 6–11): GENETIC TECHNOLOGY IN THE SPHERE OF HUMAN HEALTH AND REPRODUCTION
TOPIC 5 WEEK 6 (Sept 3): Ethical issues posed by genetic screening, testing and diagnosis
Reading:
* Clarke: ‘Genetic Screening and Counselling.’
* Steinbock: ‘Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis and Embryo Selection.’
TOPIC 6 WEEK 7 (Sept 10): The ethics of somatic and germline genetic therapy
Reading:
* Chadwick: ‘Gene Therapy.’
* Elias and Annas: ‘Somatic and Germline Gene Therapy.’
Warren: ‘The Moral Status of the Gene.’
MONDAY 17 SEPT – MONDAY 2 OCT (inclusive): MID SEMESTER BREAK
* ESSAY OPTION 1 DEADLINE: 11.59pm Friday 21 September
TOPIC 7 WEEK 9 (Oct 8): Guest lecture: Professor Wendy Rogers – The moral acceptability of genetic enhancement and the therapy/enhancement distinction
Reading:
* Peter Singer: ‘Parental Choice and Human Improvement’.
* Ruud Ter Meulen et al: ‘Ethical Issues of Enhancement Technologies’.
David Resnik and Daniel B. Vorhaus: ‘Genetic Modification and Genetic Determinism’.
TOPIC 8 WEEK 10 (Oct 15): Stem cell research and the moral status of human embryonic stem cells.
Reading:
* Harris: ‘Stem Cells, Sex and Procreation’
TOPIC 9 WEEK 11 (Oct 22): Would it be morally permissible to clone human beings?
Reading:
* Brock: ‘Cloning Human Beings: An Assessment of the Ethical Issues Pro and Con.’
Holm: ‘A Life in the Shadow: One Reason Why We Should Not Clone Human Beings.’
Kass: ‘The Wisdom of Repugnance.’
SECTION III (WEEKS 12-13): THE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
TOPIC 10 WEEK 12 (Oct 29): Ethical issues posed by commercialisation of human genetic material
Reading:
* Chadwick and Hedgecoe: ‘Commercial Exploitation of the Human Genome’
Munzer: ‘Property, Patents and Genetic Material'
TOPIC 11 WEEK 13 (Nov 5): Ethical and environmental issues in food biotechnology.
Reading:
*Thompson: ‘Ethical Issues in Food Biotechnology’
Altieri and Rosset: ‘Ten Reasons Why Biotechnology Will Not Ensure Food Security, Protect the Environment and Reduce Poverty in the Developing World.’
McGloughlin: ‘Ten Reasons Why Biotechnology Will Be Important to the Developing World.’ Wills: ‘Disrupting Evolution: Biotechnology’s Real Result.’
* ESSAY OPTION 2 DEADLINE: 11.59pm Friday 9 November
SEMESTER ENDS – EXAMINATIONS BEGIN
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Students will present their Class Presentations in pairs, with a requirement to complete an Authorship Statement to be submitted with the Presentation Report. Presentations will be held in the final 30 minutes of lecture time, and must be attended by all CBMS students.