Genetics, what can it mean ?

15.09.2009

Here is the trailer from the movie "Gattaca" that we watched today for the beginning of our sequence on Genetics. You can watch it again below. With the help of your script, you'll find help to follow. Here is a copy of your script:

We said :
"The document is the trailer / preview from the science-fiction movie "Gattaca". It deals with gene manipulation of unborn children. Scientists may want to create a higher race of human beings by modifying the cells of embryos".

Then, as there was a problem with mem not finding my cd case again, I had some of you read an extract from your books p. 142-143 about two parents who are at the geneticist's and want to select the mental and physical characteristics of the future child.

Finally, we debated on cloning. We saw some differences between human cloning and animal cloning. Most of the students were in favor of animal cloning whereas most of you were against human cloning...
A copy of the opinion poll questions :

Here is what we said:

"Animal cloning could be a good idea to feed the third world or to help cure diseases. Indeed, sheep could be bred artificially and be given to a starving population provided the flock was healthy and safe to eat. We could definitely make progress in science and maybe find a treatment for deadly viruses such as AIDS. However, cloning human beings seems to raise many more ethical questions and I'm against it. I believe we are not gods and we shouldn't consider life as a game. For me, human cloning should be banned. I don't want a world where progress has such a big importance. In a world without flaws, living wouldn't be interesting."

HW : for next time, learn your lesson... of course... + Complete the opinion poll and be ready to justify your choices orally.

Here is a little preview of the scene that we are going to study from the movie "Gattaca":

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