Miss Evers' Boys/GINA Response

View Forgiving Dr. Mengele or Miss Evers' Boys. Go to ORP's page and take module for human genetics (post completion certificate in e-scrapbook). Write short essay (up to 5 pages) on implications of Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act.

Miss Evers’ Boys is a tale told by the old black nurse, Eunice Evers, as she testifies at the 1973 Senate Investigation into the Tuskegee Study. The Tuskegee Study of Untreated Blacks with Syphilis was a 1932 research project started in Macon County, Alabama funded by the federal government. This study is one which is historically significant as significantly affects virtually all human subjects research conducted today. The study of 412 men infected with syphilis intended to determine is blacks reacted similarly to whites to the long-term overall effects of the illness. The study was severely flawed in that it has since raised many concerns and discussions over the manors in which to conduct ethically responsible research.

The study involved giving the black participants placebo medication and observing the outcomes; In the case of syphilis, this presents a grim, and rather painful reality for sufferers. The study was only ended 40 years after its launch, and only due to the Senate Investigation into it. The film hits a hard note when Miss Evers yells: “If these men had been white.. ..They would have been treated! And the federal government would not have renewed the grant year after year.” This brings up a major problem, is it socially acceptable or even ethical, to superimpose socially constructed differences (i.e. race, religion, class) into research in order to determine if empirical differences exist? To this I swiftly reply, hell no, if we take socially constructed themes into empirical science, we risk the validity of our research. In essence this brings assumptions in to the research which cannot be verified as being true or even causally related to the research of interest.

The Genetic Nondiscrimination Act is a significant piece of legislation and holds many implications for future research. In legal terms, it technically is unconstitutional to place into effect any legislation that specifically targets an individual or group of them. As such the implications of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act hold some logical basis. The GINA states that no genetic information may be used for the purposes of health insurance/coverage or employment. Simply this ensures a potential genocide of sorts, because if hypothetically genetic information could be used in any way, it would open a tempting door to quantify the human experience in a manor deemed “most efficiently effective” which would disadvantage many. To this extent the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act helps ensure natural selection to some degree by ensuring socially constructed notions of genetic desirability do not run rampant.

Stem Cell Lectures/Interviews Response

Listen to all Lectures/Interviews and write a response (she didn’t give a page number/limit) at: http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/stemcells/lectures.html

Stem cell research today stands as potentially one of the most promising fields of scientific study, yet it is also one of the most heavily debated. The online lectures of panelists discussing stem cells explore this reality thoroughly. Stem cell research is in conflict with some of our societal norms and beliefs; Many are raising arms in trying to be heard on what they feel are acceptable practices for conducting stem cell research. American culture has largely been Judeo-Christian in its history, which is partly a basis for the contention over the subject. Many Christians and Orthodox Catholics today hold strong and passionate views on the subjects of abortion and the perceived sanctity of human life. Because many stem cells in the past have come from aborted fetuses, there is a heated debate on whether or not it is ethical to obtain samples from a fetus. Traditional Catholic beliefs hold that human life begins at the moment of conception, or when the sperm encounters and fertilizes the egg; Following this logic Catholics by and large tend to hold the position that from that moment onward the fetus is officially a human being.

Stem cell research, like any other research field, inevitably presents a potential for abuse to occur during research (i.e. GMOs); In spite of this, it would defy logic to declare this area of research to be of no worth investigating. The potential for unethical research has been somewhat addressed in the policy world, for example, with the UN Declaration on Human Cloning. This international policy in effect places a ban on any and all forms of human cloning. My opinion of the whole issue is that what is being seen in action are the counter-productive effects of prohibition. It cannot be argued that stem-cell research can potentially bring about many new helpful discoveries, but what is used to counter this claim is a question of at what cost?. On the global level, the US stands somewhat behind in this field of science. The United States on the map shown was effectively orange in classification, or that policy is a Restrictive Compromise, which means that we are more prohibitive than permissive. The restriction on stem cell research has actually created a rampant black market of therapeutic treatments. In fact many international websites lay claims to being able to cure almost any disease of ailment in existence; This is both shocking and somewhat expected. It lowers the spirit to see humans act in such ways, but people are also desperately suffering from sicknesses and demanding answers to their quests for relief.

It would be a very detailed –oriented, and at times, slow process to find a stable intersection for the realms of science and public policy for this issue, yet changes need to be made to improve the current situation. One possibility would be to hold policy conventions across the nation and invite the public to participate actively. This though would require extensive planning and efforts to insure that these are conducted in a fair, equitable, and rational manor and take into consideration the vested interests of participants.

Confronting A Genetic Legacy Response

View Confronting a Genetic Legacy. Discuss in a short essay either why breast cancer is not discussed for men or the choice of radical mastectomy as a preventative measure.

Breast cancer is a real disease, it affects real people, many whom live normal lives, and like many diseases, it does not discriminate in who it affects. In today’s world, we hear about breast cancer often, in magazines, television shows, even famous celebrities take up campaigns to raise awareness for the disease and hold events to fund research for a cure. Yet the public image of breast cancer we see is incomplete, one sided if you will. Still not convinced, what exactly comes to mind when you think of breast cancer? Well, when one asks Google images search, the first two pictures are pink ribbons, the next three female breasts and then an unending sea of “boobies and pink everything”. To many, this would seem like a concise vignette, yet this image is incredibly one-sided, especially to the scrutiny of anyone with some gender studies or sociology experience. What is missing from this picture, are the voices of the countless men who suffer and have to live with the reality of breast cancer.

Male breast cancer is very real, it is a weight on the lives of the men it affects, just as much so as it is to the many women it affects also. Confronting a Genetic Legacy focuses largely on the women affected by breast cancer, and it is not the first nor will it be the last portrayal on effects of breast cancer which excludes men from the picture. The occurrence of breast cancer in men is not a newly discovered medical phenomenon, in fact, it has been referenced on Egyptian papyrus which dates back from 3000-2500 BCE. The first clinical report was described back in the 14^th century by John of Arderne. Statistically speaking, men are technically less likely to develop cancer in the breast tissue versus another part of the body, but this still does not explain the near-invisible reality of male breast cancer. Male occurrences of breast cancer account for about 1% of all breast cancer cases, but the incidence of these occurrences have been increasing for the last decade and a half. Although instances of breast cancer in both sexes have many similarities, men typically have BRCA2 rather than BRCA1 mutations. Genetic risk factors include Klinefelter syndrome and gonadal dysfunction; additionally environmental factors suchas high temperature environments, exhaust fumes, excess alcohol, or exposure to radiation all increase the risk of occurrence.

To emphasize my point, consider this: many men when asked about their perceived risk for breast cancer responded as such: None… clearly reality is being warped somehow. Breast cancer is actually more deadly of an assassin for the men it targets in many cases. Presentation is usually a painless lump, but is often late, with more than 40% of individuals having a stage III or IV disease. What is at work here are the socially constructed boundaries which divide gender and sex. Masculinity is constructed, not only relative to, but in opposition of femininity; In this way, many academics concur that our dominant notion of masculinity is, in part, defined as that which is not feminine. Following this logic, one could see that one of the main differences which exists, phenotypically speaking, between men and women are breasts. Sociologists have long observed that many of the epithets which adolescents use amongst themselves are gender based. Common slurs boys use include: wimp, sissy, faggot, pussy, or Nancy boy.

Many of these insults are harassments based on behavior, but boys are also teased for physical differences. Overweight children, in particular, are the object of much ridicule and often teased. Having been obese at one point in my childhood, I personally am familiar with this reality. A common insult which many such boys are teased with is allegedly “having boobies”, which creates a notion that males are biologically different than females in that they are not supposed to have breasts. This though is a tragically flawed misconception, because while it is true that males do not have breast tissue as developed as females, they still do have breast tissue and like any other tissue, there is always a risk for the cells to become cancerous. Because of this notion, it is imperative that together as a society, with activists and the medical community included, a reevaluation of our perceptions of the male breast occur, and a social movement birthed; I can already picture it across bumper stickers and t-shirts alike: I ¤ MANBOOBS!

References

Fentiman, Ian S., Alain Fourquet, and Gabriel N. Hortobagyi. “Male Breast Cancer”. The Lancet. Volume 367, Issue 9510, 595-604. 18 February, 2006. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(06)68226-3. Web.

Gómez-Gaposo, César, Francisco Zambrana Tévar, María Sereno Moyano, Miriam López Gómez, Enrique Casado. “Male Breast Cancer”. Cancer Treatment Reviews. Volume 36, Issue 6, 451-457. October 2010 (Published online: 02 March 2010). Web.

Bernard-Marty, C, E. Azambuja, L. Dal Lago, M. J. Piccart, and F. Cardoso. “Male Breast Cancer”. Breast Cancer and Molecular Medicine. Part 14, 903-923, 2006. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-540-28266- 2_42

Gattaca Response

View Gattaca or Children of Men. Write a short essay addressing following q's: Are the genetic aspects of the film portrayed in a realistic manner? How are social norms reflected in the use of genetics? Is the outcome of the film consistent with what we know about genetics today?

Are the genetic aspects of the film portrayed in a realistic manner?

To this question I would answer yes, and expand on this response in that

this would be a very realistic picture of the future where measures such as the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act do not exist. Human nature is to be governed with a prioritized sense of self-preservation and construction; in this tendency, within a capitalistic society such as our own, it would stand to reason that genetic information could and would be used as a tool to insure and establish personal success and preservation. Vincent Freeman, is a prime example of the marginalized, having a projected risk for developing heart disease and mental disorders and is only predicted to live until shortly over 30.

How are social norms reflected in the use of genetics?

Social norms in Gattaca clearly reflect a hierarchy which is based upon a preconceived ranking system of genetic desirability. At birth humans are analyzed along the complete genetic spectrum and a profile created. This is a logical occurrence as humans have a tendency to need to be able to distinguish themselves from other humans. Because of this tendency, it could be rationalized that the most logical and effective lines for doing so would be genetic in nature. Sadly it is a tragically simplistic practice to use genetic information as the sole basis for the determination of one’s social identity and standing. In a nutshell this film does a rather accurate job of summing up the current debate raging in science today over effects of nature versus nurture.

Is the outcome of the film consistent with what we know about genetics today?

I would say to this question yes as well, the reasons for which I find to be simple. First and foremost, science and varied literature have already documented the incredible nature of the human body and individual. The human body has been documented to undergo near-miraculous change in a direction. Now this can go for the better or worse as we saw in the movie with the destruction of Jerome and with Vincent’s victory; this simply shows that genotype is not synonymous to phenotype. In other words we still cannot ignore the role of nurture/the environment when examining individuals by genotype. In this sense, the film is rather consistent with our present knowledge in that we do in fact, acknowledge a need to further explore the effects of nature and nurture.

Case Studies Exercise

Case Studies Exercise (Optional): http://www.cdc.gov/genomics/hugenet/CaseStudy/index.html

I Could Not Locate This Exercise Online.

Family Tree Exercise

Family Tree Exercise: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/israel/family.html

When visiting this website I was able to access the initial site but when I proceeded to build a family tree, an error came up saying the contents of the page were of an unspecified type and that a plug-in was required view them, but did not specify which one.

Sexual Diversity in the Animal Kingdom Response

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