RESEARCH PAPER ROUGH OUTLINE
I.
Introduction
 Hook: anecdote (1-3 sentences w/ vivid imagery)
 Segue: controversial anecdote b/c ethics
 Working Thesis Statement: As a society, we must ensure that accelerating
advances in biotechnology do not exceed what we consider to be ethical.
II.
Preparation for Discussion of Ethics and Biotechnology
 Topic Sentence: In order to conduct meaning research about the relationship b/t
ethics and biotechnology, it is important to understand what those terms mean.
 Ethics isn’t only about emotions (“Ethics”).
 Ethics isn’t only about religion.
 Ethics isn’t only about the law.
 Define ethics here.
 Define biotechnology (dictionary.com) Dictionary.com defines the word
biotechnology as “…………………………………….” Try to find some synonyms for biotech
here.
III.
Biotechnology: Breeding Animals
 One area of biotechnology that has seen many advances is that of breeding
animals.
 Breed Special Characteristics
o How do scientists create hybrids?
o Why do scientists create hybrids?
o Animals can be made luminescent: list here (“Gene Cuisine”).
 Give research info (“ “).
 Comment about the research info next.
o Although making animals glow in the dark might not seem significant,
this specialization does indicate that animals can be specialized in other
ways as well, ways that are significant.
 Mixed Breeds (Hybrid): liger, beefalo, zorse (“Gene Cuisine”).
 Beefalo: more meat, more profit
 Chickens: breasts so large they can’t mate naturally. Why? More meat, more
profit.
IV.
Insect Specialization
 Cockroach w/ computer chip
 Lamprey eel brain could move a cart.
 Flies
V.
 Military application
Artificial Cells Made from Computer
 Doesn’t look like we have enough research for this as a paragraph. We either need
to get more research or eliminate it as a paragraph.
VI.
Gene Therapy
 Correction of birth defects. Name some. Is this happening now; will it happen in
the future?
 Abused by creating “designer” babies: beauty, gender, strength, intelligence
 Any movie and/or books about abuse of this?
VII.
Cloning Animals and/or Insects
 What is cloning?
 Why would people use this?
 Endangered species, bees, etc.
 Bringing back an extinct species
 Benefits/Consequences
VIII.
Cloning Humans
 Body parts, i.e., the mouse with the ear; major organs? A brain?
 Entire bodies: are they spare parts; do they have basic human rights?; do they
have souls?
 Bring back loved ones who have died.
 Bring back great leaders.
IX.
GE Crops
 What is GE?
 Why do scientists engineer GE crops?
 What are some GE crops?
 Independent farmers vs corporate farms
 America and Europe have different attitudes toward this.
 Are there benefits?
 Are there consequences
X.
Medicine: Beginning of life
 Premature babies vs. aborted babies of same gestation period.
 Cost of neonatal care
 Health consequences of being born so early
 Pain?
XI.
Medicine: Middle of Life
 Lou Gehrig’s Disease and other debilitating illnesses
 Long-lasting comas
 Case studies
 How long do we keep someone on life support?
 What about costs?
 Pain? Emotional
XII.
Medicine: Extending Life
 Why would scientists do this?
 Benefits/consequences
 Live longer
 What quality?
 Reproductive capability?
 Use of resources
 Social repercussions
XIII.
Medicine: End of life
 Medical care required
 Nursing homes
 Alzheimer’s
 Assisted living
 Cost of drugs
 Cost of care
 Quality of life
 Do Not Resuscitate: DNR
XII.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
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XIII
What is it?
Why do it?
Benefits/Consequences
Do they receive same rights as humans?
Movies, books
Conclusion Paragraph
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Restatement of the Thesis
Transitions and summary of each body paragraph, not including ethics paragraph
“So what” Section: Why should people care about this topic?