The discussion may be initiated by looking at a personal, general or extreme statement. Below is a table of some suggested starting questions and statements from each of these points of view on issues related to biotechnology.
| Personal Qs | Issue Qs | Extreme Statements |
|
Would your clone be exactly like you? How would it learn your experiences? Who would be in charge?
|
What is the role of culture and environment in influencing development? Would your clone have your:
Who do we clone?
Who decides? |
Everyone needs 2 or 3 clones for spare parts surgery. |
| Personal Qs | Issue Qs | Extreme Statements |
|
Would you take a heart from a pig? If you have an artificial heart, are you fully human? When would you become a 'borg'? If your mum needed a transplant, should it be available at any cost? |
Should embyros be used to grow spare parts? Should you be able to buy body parts from other people? Who should have access to those treatments - only the wealthy? Is the benefit of transplanting an organ from another animal worth the risk of contracting new diseases? Who should have priority for transplants? |
This is the last mortal generation. If you replace enough body parts often enough, you could live forever. We shouldn't be doing any transplantations when the money could be used to feed the hungry. Alcoholics with liver damage should not receive liver transplants. You should only be able to transplant vital organs. |
| Personal Qs | Issue Qs | Extreme Statements |
|
Would you choose your baby's:
|
Will gene technology lead to a genetic 'under' class and an elite class? Should people be compelled to provide samples to DNA databases for solving crimes? In what ways might there be pressure on minority groups to select towards the dominant culture group? Who decides who has the right to reproduce? |
Genetic 'improvement' or 'manipulation' will give your baby the best chance in life. Insurance companies and employers should have access to your genetic records to make decisions affecting you. Cultural pressures on baby design will lead to a race of Kens and Barbies. People with inferior genes should not be allowed to reproduce. |
| Personal Qs | Issue Qs | Extreme Statements |
|
Would you eat GM foods? What if they were cheaper? What if they tasted better? What if they were healthier? Do you feel you have enough information about the risks and benefits of GM foods? |
What are the benefits of GM crops and foods and who is benefiting from them:
Who controls the production of GM foods? Who do you trust to give you information on GM foods? Will GM crops lead to superweeds and superpests? Are GM crops and foods of more benefit to developing countries than developed countries? |
GM foods will allow us to feed the world. GM crops could take over all non-GM crops in the world. GM crops are unnatural. Eating a GM tomato will make me genetically modified. |
| Personal Qs | Issue Qs | Extreme Statements |
|
Does the ability of humanity to alter genes diminish your sense of wonder towards life and nature? |
Will gene modification lead to a new type of gene pollution? Should we use gene technology to resurrect endangered species:
Is tinkering with genes 'playing God'? Just because we have the technology, should be be using it? Is bioremediation a solution to pollution, or a way of ignoring the cause of the problem? |
Genetic manipulation will upset the planet's delicate ecosystem. You cannot alter one species without affecting all other species. We can't prevent modified genes from escaping into the environment. |
| Personal Qs | Issue Qs | Extreme Statements |
|
Would you sell your genes to a company to use? |
Is biotechnology being fairly shared in society? Are multinational companies only driven by profit? Will biotechnology lead to new industries and new jobs? Is biotechnology research too often controlled by large companies who buy up global patents? If GM products are cheaper/more expensive, does this limit consumer choices towards buying them? |
Biotechnology is only controlled by governments and large companies because of the high cost of research, development and patenting. Scientists only work on things that are useful for society. |