Exploring Bioethics - NIH Office of Science Education - National ...

6. Read the list of Round 1 questions from the Round 1 Answer Key(below) aloud, and ask students to raise their hands to indicatewhether they thought each question was ethical or scientific.Round 1 Answer Key: Ethical (E) vs. Scientific (S) (Master 1.1)Type QuestionS How does the human immune system recognize bacteria?EESShould people who have a genetic test to see whether they are carriersof a genetic disease tell their family members about the results?Who should receive a vaccine that is in short supply—a very youngperson or a very old person?How do vaccines work?12SEESSEHow does the kidney’s structure relate to its function?Must children be allowed to decide for themselves if they want to beinvolved in a test of a new treatment for a disease?Should people who donate a kidney be allowed to choose whoshould receive it?How can a gene from a human being be inserted into a plant?How does a mutation in a gene alter the structure of theresulting protein?Under what circumstances, if any, should people insert genes fromone species into another?37. Use the following points to engage students in a discussionof Round 1:• Scientists seek to understand phenomena in the world—theywant to describe what is. They answer scientific questions withobservations and experimentation.• Bioethicists seek to understand what people should or ought to do.They answer ethical questions with reasons, using both the factsat hand and relevant ethical considerations, such as respect forpersons and fairness.• The difference between “is” and “ought” is a good way to summarizea main difference between scientists (who seek to describe andunderstand the natural world) and ethicists (who seek to determinewhat one ought to do).45Module 1 1-116