MCB 404 EXAM 3

What are the two pillars of morality according to the ted talk on animal research (Fraans de Waal)?

Reciprocity (Fairness) and Empathy (Compassion)

What was the result of gene transfer on the meadow vole?

Using a virus as a vector they inserted a longer version of the RS3 microsatellite along with the AVPRa1 gene into the meadow vole. The transgenic meadow showed monogamous behavior.

What are the three R's of animal research?

replacement. reduction, and refinement

Why did Henrietta have cells that were capable of multiplying by the billions?

the cells stay alive because they have this enzyme in them that rebuilds the ends of their chromosomes, so the cells just never get old, they don't die

What are characteristics of William's Syndrome patients?

their faces look "cherubic" they are short. Mentally retarded Cardiovascular difficulties Hyper-social, they think that everybody is their friend. But they have problem in keeping long lasting relationships. They have a short region of chromosome 7 deleted. This region approximately includes 25 genes. The gene is known as GTF2I.

What does it mean to have a positive result for a genetic test?

there is nothing that you can do to avoid the development of the disease. there is something that you could do to avoid the development of the disease. there isn't a clear idea if you will develop the disease. The answer can come from a studying a larger group of individual from different genetic background.

What are some propositions to compensate tissue donors?

-Social Security like system Each donation of cell or tissue sample will entitle the person to an increased level of compensation. -Tax write-off -Royalty system Every time a tissue is sold, a percentage of profit will go to scientific or medical charities or funnel back to research.

What does a deleterious mutation mean to an individual?

Are changes in the DNA that will lower the fitness of the individual to survive or to reproduce.

What happened in the case of Sue Caldwell?

A Georgia court in 1985. Glenda Sue Caldwell shot and killed her son and tried to kill her daughter After she was sentenced to life in prison, Caldwell began to develop symptoms of Huntington's Disease a brain disorder that distorts voluntary behavior. Once Caldwell tested positive for the mutant gene that causes this disease, she was granted a new trial and found not guilty by reason of insanity

How is PGD conducted?

A blastomere from a blastula (after it's third mitotic division) is removed. The DNA of this cell is tested for a number of genetic diseases. If this test show a negative result it is re-implanted in the mother uterus.

What is a model organism?

A model organism is a non-human species that is extensively studied to understand a particular biological phenomena, with the expectation that discoveries made in the organism model will provide insight into the workings of other organisms.[1] In particular, model organisms are widely used to explore potential causes and treatments for human disease when human experimentation would be unfeasible or unethical.

What is the reason we abuse animals according to Peter Singer?

According to Peter Singer, we discriminate against non-human animals because we believe that they don't have any interest. Because they are not capable of suffering Otherwise they have the same interest that humans do. .

What is normative relativism?

An ethical decision should be made based on what society determines to be right. An ethical decision should be made based on the persons' convictions. The two previous cases are normative because: They are categorized based on standards or norms, making them right or wrong behavior

What is the ACE gene?

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme There are two alleles of this gene One of the alleles has a 287 additional bp The longer allele enhances endurance performance. enhances anabolic response to intensive exercise training.

What is ALF?

Animal Liberation Front

Do animals have the capacity to reason?

Animals have no capacity for reasoning Otherwise they have the same interest that humans do. They can't consent to be the object of an experiment because they lack this capacity. They don't know what is an experiment is or how an experiment could benefit their species. But animals have the same capacity to feel pain, anxiety, depression, excitement that humans have.

Is there an absolute for moral standards?

Anthropological data indicates that moral rightness: Varies from place to place. There are no absolute moral standards. Culture can agree on the same moral value But disagree on how to apply them in a particular situation or practice

What happened when Dr. Catalona moved to a different University?

Because Washington University wanted to charge the company, he decided to move to Northwestern University School of Medicine in Chicago. He wrote to his patients asking them to authorize the movement of their tumors to his new institution. Washington University sued Dr. Catalona Because he wrote to the patients with that request Patients sued Washington University because The tissues belong to them. They wanted the tissues to be used by Dr. Catalona to continue the research

Why do we use animals as experimental models?

Because human animals are speciesists Human animals belief that all other species of animals are inferior and may therefore be used for human benefit without regard to the suffering that can be inflicted on them.

What is the CHRM2 gene responsible for?

COGNITIVE GENE There are some information that suggests that cholinergic neurons are involved in; memory attention higher cognition

When is genetic testing used?

Carrier screening involves identifying unaffected individuals who carry one copy of a gene for a disease that requires two copies for the disease to be expressed Preimplantation genetic diagnosis Prenatal diagnostic testing Newborn screening For predicting adult-onset disorders such as Huntington's disease Confirmational diagnosis of a symptomatic individual Forensic/identity testing

What is relativism of standards?

Common morality is not relative It applies equally to all. We have cultural, professional and individual morality. These moralities are relative. If there is a disagreement between two cultures in a fundamental moral norm, there will be no norm or set of norms that everyone is set to abide by.

Do courts generally accept scientific research?

Courts will generally not accept scientific research into evidence unless the scientific community has accepted the research as being reliable. Consequently, as long as the theory of a casual connection between genes and violence is still being developed, it will probably be not accepted as evidence.

What is the prescedent of the "Get out of jail free gene" (MAOA)?

Defense attorneys have used genetic disorders such as schizophrenia as part of an insanity defense the theory is that a person who does not know the difference between right and wrong or cannot control his or her actions. therefore he/she is morally blameless for any criminal behavior. This defense has never resulted in an acquittal genetic disorders have been into consideration when determining proper punishment

What is Peter Singer's views on animal rights?

Ethicist that defends animal rights. In his arguments he stands on the premise that humans and animals are equal. He uses the terms humans, animals and non-human animals. He recognizes that there are differences between human animals and non-human animals so we have different rights But according to him we have the same rights with regards to those common characteristics.

What happened to Abdelmalek Bayout?

He admitted the stabbing and killing of a man in 2007. Received a sentenced of 9 years and 2 months. Two scientist performed a genetic test for five genes linked to aggressive behavior. On April 2009, an appeal court judge in Italy cut Bayout's sentence by a year after finding out he has gene variants linked to aggression. First time in Europe that genes were accepted as evidence. On March, 2010 another judge revoked the previous decision

What did Slavin decide to do with his antibodies?

He contacted pharmaceutical companies and asked whether or not they were interested in buying his antibodies. Pharmaceutical company was very interested. Slavin started to sell his serum for as much as ten dollars/milliliter and up to 500 milliliters per order to anyone who wanted it. He also wanted to cure Hepatitis B, he offered Dr. Baruch Blumberg (the person that developed the test to diagnose Hepatitis B) an unlimited supply of his serum at no charge. This partnership lasted for years Blumber discovered the link between Hepatitis B and liver cancer. Blumber created the first Hepatitis B vaccine This partnership saved millions of lives

Why did the court disagree with Moore in the Moore/Golde case?

He did not receive any compensation. The court found that Moore had no property rights to his discarded cells or any profits made from them. When a tissue is removed from your body with or without consent, the patient forfeits any claims over these tissue. When a patient leaves cells or tissues behind in a doctor's office or research lab, they are leaving waste. Because they are waste, anybody can take your garbage and sell it. The cells were able to be established as a cell line due to the "human creativity" and "inventive effort" of Dr. Golde.

What was Dr. Catalona known for?

He is the most renowned prostate surgeon. He was a professor working at the medical school of Washington University. Patients suffering from prostate cancer came from all over the world to have him as a surgeon. He removes the tumor leaving behind the nerves so men can have an erection. He asked the patients to donate their tumors so they could be studied. He kept his patients/donors informed of the progress in his research.

What did Slavin do after he decided to sell his antibodies?

He realized that most likely he was not the only patient with valuable blood. He recruited other people with a similar gift. He founded a biotech company called Essential Biological. This company eventually merged with a bigger biotech company. Slavin is the first person that turned his body into a business.

Who was Henrietta Lacks and what was special about her cells?

Henrietta Lacks- She was an African American patient diagnosed with cervical cancer. Tobacco farmer with 5 kids In 1951, during a biopsy, doctors removed some of her tumor. Without her permission they cultivated her cells into a "cell culture". These were the first to be successfully maintained in vitro They named them HeLa cells. The HeLa cell line was patented and the company profited millions of dollars. In 1971, her adult children learned about the existence of these cell lines while watching a news report

What was Mobley's defense in court?

His lawyers tried to argue that their client's criminal behavior was the result of a genetic defect Submitted affidavits from doctors supporting this assertion. The court, however, denied a request that this evidence be presented to the jury. Mobley's lawyer, asked the appeals court to spare his client's life because he did not have control over his violent tendencies. In other words, Summer argued that Mobley's genes "made him do it."

Which genes effect physical and cognitive abilities?

IQ genes ACE gene

What is the difference between universal and cultural morality?

In the culture there are: Universal (or common) morality. Significant measures of moral agreements (objectivity). This is also termed "cultural morality". Neither the universal morality, nor the cultural morality can be modified by a person's preferences.

What is the basic principle of equality?

It does not require equal or identical treatment. It requires equal consideration. Equal consideration for different beings may lead to different treatment and different rights

How do prairie voles act when they are in a relationship?

It has a monogamous behavior. More social. It only lives and mates with a single female vole. It helps the female in taking care of the offspring It protects the offspring. It is extremely protective with the female. When the female dies it will fall into depression. It will become lethargic. Many researchers describe this behavior as if the males gave up on life. They don't try to establish another pair-bonding relationship. They die. Similar behavior will be observed in the laboratory if you separate the couple.

How do meadow voles act when they are in a relationship?

It is less social. It searches for a partner. Immediately after mating they abandon the female. Never take care of the offspring. Never get depressed after abandoning the partner. It becomes aggressive against the partner if "she" follows "him"

What condition did John Moore have? How was it treated?

John Moore noticed that his gums were bleeding, his belly was swelling and had bruises that covered his body. In 1976, at the age of 31, he was diagnosed with hairy-cell leukemia. This type of cancer filled his spleen with malignant blood cells Dr. David Golde - his doctor played an important role as a cancer researcher at UCLA and recommended the removal of his spleen. Moore signed a consent form to "dispose of any severed tissue or member by cremation," A normal spleen weighed less that a pound, but the spleen of John Moore weighed 22 pounds.

Why did the court agree with Moore in the Moore/Golde case?

Lack of informed consent Dr. David Golde who had an obligation to reveal his financial interest in the materials harvested from Mr. Moore. Thus, in the court decision the judge stated Golde took advantage of his position as a doctor and violated the patient's right. The court stated that even though it is not law, researchers must disclose financial interest to the patient. Court highlighted the lack of regulation and called for legislation about this issue.

What experiment did researchers conduct to determine the difference in the two voles relationship tendencies?

Made a Genome wide association study. Identify DNA markers present in one vole but absent in the other. Study the region were the markers were found. Identify the genes in the region. Determine the proteins encoded by the regions that could cause this behavior. The study identified a DNA marker (microsatellite) which they called RS3. RS3 is located 5' of the arginine vasopressin receptor type a1 gene.

What is cultural relativism?

Maintained rightness is contingent upon cultural beliefs. The concepts of rightness and wrongness are meaningless apart from: Specific cultural and historical contexts in which they arise. Not necessarily true. When moral codes between cultures or individuals are different. Morally committed people in those cultures could agree on the same moral standards.

What did Moore end up doing to Dr. Golde and UCLA?

Moore sued For deceiving him For using his body in research without consent Moore also claimed property rights over his tissue Thus, he sue David Golde for stealing his cells This is the first legal challenge in property rights over tissues. This was not the first time in which the issue of ownership of cells were taken to a court of law.

How useful is animal experimentation?

Most animal experiments don't result in useful data. Research has not significantly contributed to extend the life span of humans. Our life span is mainly the result of better education and sanitation. Medical intervention is only responsible for 3.5%.

What is done with the millions of tissue samples that are collected yearly?

NIH has invested $13.5 million in a bio-bank that will house the samples of new born babies. The National Cancer Institute is currently collecting million of tissue samples for mapping cancer genes. Geographic Project is also collecting millions of samples to map human migration patterns Personalize DNA testing companies also store samples.

How did Dr. Catalona get samples for his research? What was the end goal of his research?

Patients signed a consent form allowing their tumors to be used for prostate cancer research. Over the years, he has accumulated more than 30,000 samples. The idea was to develop a diagnostic kit to allow the earlier detection of prostate tumors.

What are some factors that could lead to a low IQ?

Poor schooling Dysfunctional families Other factors that are the result of past and continuing discrimination.

How do the prairie voles and the meadow voles compare genetically?

Prairie voles (monogamous) have a longer RS3 microsatellite repeat. Meadow voles (polygamous) have a shorter RS3 microsatellite repeat.

What made the antibodies that Tim Slavin produced special?

Researchers around the world were working to develop a vaccine for Hepatitis B. They required a steady supply of antibodies against Hepatitis B, such as the ones that were produced by Slavin. Pharmaceutical companies were willing to pay top dollar for these steady supplies of antibodies.

What is the function of GTF12?

SOCIAL BEHAVIOR GENE This gene encodes a multifunctional phosphoprotein with roles in transcription and signal transduction. It seems that its actions are focused in the hypothalamus. It is likely to be expressed in the hypothalamus and pituitary. These are regions that regulate oxytocin. Hypothalamus is where oxytocin is secreted Oxytosin is responsible for social bonding and establishing of trust.

Which genes influence social behavior?

Social Genes Thrill seeking gene. "Get out of jail free gene" (MAOA)

Why did Dr. Golde want John Moore to sign the consent form for rights to his cell line so badly?

Sometime before August 1979, Moore's doctor established a cell line from Moore's T-lymphocytes. These cells produced several extremely valuable proteins These proteins can be used to treat infections and cancer These cells also carry the HTLV virus This virus is similar to HIV and can be used to create a vaccine against AIDS pharmaceutical companies were willing to pay enormous sums to work with these cells. On January 6, 1983, the Reagents applied for a patent on the cell line, listing Moore's doctor as inventors. U.S. Patent 4,438,032 was issued on March 20, 1984.

What is DRD4?

THRILL SEEKING GENE Dopamine receptor gene D4 variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism . A connection of this allele and sex drive has been identified. Some studies have ruled out this gene and instead it was determined that the -521C/T is the allele responsible for this behavior

Why are biotech companies concerned about compensation for tissues?

That compensating the donor would lead to profit-seekers. This will most likely slow down scientific progress. The companies will need to negotiate with donors. The patient will demand a monetary compensation even in the case in which the tissue is use for non-profit research.

What happened with the Havasupai Indians and ASU?

The American Indians gave blood samples in hopes of knowing why their rates of diabetes were so high. The blood samples were used to study many other things, including mental illness and theories of the tribe's geographical origins that contradict their traditional stories. the university agreed to pay $700,000 to 41 of the tribe's members, return the bloodsamples and provide other forms of assistance

Why do people welcome the BRCA test while many decline the Huntington's genetic test?

The answer could be in the fact that there is a treatment (although not a cure) if the person gets a positive result for the BRCA gene,while there is not an effective treatment or cure in the case of Huntington's disease

What was the courts decision on Dr. Catalona's case (the patients suing the University)?

The court decided that when a tumor is in your body, the tissue belongs to you. However, when the tumor is removed from your body, the patient gives up his property rights to that tissue. Patients could request that their sample be destroyed, but they could not request that the samples be sent to another institution. The judge cited a precedent known as the "no property in a body". Patients could request that their tissues be used for a specific research study. But, according to the court, it is up to the institution to respect the patient's request as a courtesy. The patient's request does not mean that the patient has any rights over the tissue. The institution has the right to use the tissue in other experiments without the patient's consent.

Why was there no compensation for Moore in the Moore/Golde case?

The court decision stated that deciding in Moore's favor will "destroy the economic incentive to conduct important medical research" Giving property rights over their tissues might "hinder research by restricting access to the necessary raw materials," Giving property rights to patients will create a situation that "every cell sample a researcher purchases a ticket in a litigation lottery"

What is the law regarding using blood/tissue in research? What are the exceptions?

The current law does not require a consent form for blood and tissue storing. The federal policy for the protection of human subjects requires a consent form from all human subjects that participate in research. It does not apply to tissue if: -The research is not funded with federal money, -The researcher never learned the identity of the "donor", -The researcher did not have firsthand contact with the donor. If a scientist gets a tissue sample for research, they need consent from the donor If the tissue was collected for diagnosis and then used for research, it does not require a consent form.

What is the "no property in a body" precedent?

The defendant, in 1614, was caught digging up corpses to steal their clothes. The court decided that: "what is in your dead body is not the property of the person that is contained in that body". Therefore, the content of your body does not belong to you.

What do ethicists and researchers believe should be the rights of the donor?

Understand the positive and negative consequences of using research on their tissue. Donors should be able to determine what research they agree to participate in. Donors should also have the right to determine if they want their tissues being used in large areas of research such as abortions, nuclear weapons, stem cell etc.

What are the two perspectives of normative relativism?

The objectivity of morals within the culture It provides arguments against individual relativism. The foolish consequences of a consistent commitment of moral relativism. Provide arguments against the cultural source of relativism.

What kids of experiments did Hela cells help in?

They were used to help test the polio vaccine so that it could be approved for use in people. They went up in the first space missions to see what would happen to human cells in zero gravity. Hers were the first cells ever cloned, some of the first genes ever mapped. They've been used to create some of our basic cancer drugs, like tomaxiphin.

What happened when Dr. Catalona was contacted by a biotech company?

This biotechnology company approached Dr. Catalona and requested 2,000 tumor samples to test a new (and better) prostate cancer assay kit. Catalona agreed to send them the samples for free because it was the wish of his patients that their tissues be used for research in Prostate Cancer. However, the University wanted to charge $100,000 to the company for the tissues.

What was the rights of animals originally a parody of?

Vindication of Rights of Women in 1792

What was the condition that Tim Slavin had and what did his body naturally produce?

Was born with hemophilia in the 1950's. The treatment for this condition at the time consisted of infusion of clotting factors. There were no screening for diseases. Thus, he was exposed to Hepatitis B virus again and again. After a decades of these treatment, a blood test showed extremely high concentration of Hepatitis B antibodies. When the doctor analyzed his blood test, he told Mr. Slavin that the antibody that his body was producing was very valuable

What is relativism of judgement?

We can paraphrase it as the relativisms of making a decision or forming a wise opinion. It is pervasive. People can have different judgments for the same moral value. People may have the same moral value, but they will have a different approach on how to implement a moral standard.

What did Tony Mobley do?

While robbing a Domino's Pizza restaurant in Oakwood, Georgia he killed the store manager. was sentenced to death by electrocution While incarcerated, Mobley's violent behavior continued: he continuously fought with other inmates raped two cellmates and threatened to kill a prison guard.

Which genes have been linked to a behavior?

Williams-syndrome Thrill Seeking Gene

Why did people who had a genetic predisposition for huntington's disease not rush to get tested?

because neither an effective treatment nor a cure was available many felt that taking the test was pointless