DEPARTMENT: Biology                                                                                                             CREDIT HOURS: 3.0
COURSE NUMBER:  BIO 308

Professor:  Dr. Terry L. Derting
                   Biology 0102; Phone: 809-6327
Class Meetings:  M 3:30-6:30
E-mail:  terry.derting@murraystate.edu
Web address: http://campus.murraystate.edu/academic/faculty/terry.derting/derting.htm
Office Hours:  The best time to meet with me is in the morning (a schedule is posted on my laboratory door).  If you want time to discuss a question, I recommend that we set up a specific time to meet.

I.  TITLE:   Ethics in Biology

II.  CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
             A comprehensive study of current ethical issues in biology, including topics in genetics and biotechnology, reproductive technology, species conservation, use of natural resources,  and medicine and human/nonhuman interests.  Understanding and application of value choices and ethics is emphasized.  (3 hours of lecture/discussion; Prerequisites - Completion of two semesters of undergraduate laboratory science)

III.  PURPOSE:
             To gain an understanding of a broad variety of ethical issues in biology and their complexity.  To learn to explain and justify an ethic.

IV.  COURSE OBJECTIVES:

You shall be able to:

A.  identify and analyze moral issues in biology,
B.  understand that science is filled with ethical judgments,
C.  learn the professional standards that govern the practice of science and decision making,
D.  recognize differing priorities, to balance them when designing solutions to complex moral problems,
E.  identify impacts of current and historical cultural and societal norms on ethical issues and their resolution,
F.  demonstrate understanding and critical evaluation of ethical issues in biology through writing and discussion.

VI.  INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES:
         All information pertaining to the course (syllabus, assignments, etc.) will be posted on Blackboard.  Make sure that you become familiar with all components of Blackboard at the beginning of the semester.

         Each student is responsible for participating in class discussions.   Students will help lead specific discussions using any format that you think will be effective (i.e., assigned reading, videos, invited speaker,  role-playing, debate, etc.)  As a discussion assistant, it is your responsibility to search out scientific information regarding the issue you will be discussing.  With that information, give the class an objective background regarding the issue.  Make sure the sources of information that you use are objective, scientific sources.  It is also your responsibility to make sure that all students are engaged in the discussion and activity that you lead.  

         You will hand in four written papers on selected discussions in which you critically evaluate an issue, express your thoughts concerning that week's discussion, how it affected your personal views and, how it contributed to your understanding of the value choices and ethics involved.    At the end of the course you will review your written assignments and attempt to discover, and more clearly defend, the values and ethical paradigms that underlay your weekly responses.  You are responsible for correct use of grammar, proof-reading, etc. your papers prior to their submission to me.  Points will be deducted for improper grammar and typographical errors.  In each paper regarding a class discussion you must explicitly state at least one ethic that you believe is relevant to the topic and must provide a justification for that ethical statement.  You will be graded on your ability to justify and refute ethical/unethical views pertaining to a topic.  Make sure that you are familiar with the rubric (posted on Blackboard) that I will use when grading your papers. At least two of the four written papers are due before Spring break.  If you so choose, you may turn in five papers and the score on your first paper will be dropped when calculating your final grade.

           You are responsible for readings in the text and any on reserve in the Science Resource Center.  You can expect to read 40 - 60 pages per week.  You can expect to be given a quiz about assigned readings.   You will be allowed to use any notes that you took when you read the assigned articles, during a quiz - but you may not copy information from a reading into one of your answers on a quiz.  That is plagiarism (see academic honesty section below).

           One of the most important components of the course is the discussions.  It is essential that every student participate in each class discussion.   Expression of your thoughts, even if redundant with views expressed by another student, is important.  Make every effort to be a vocal participant in class.  

VII.  FIELD, CLINICAL, AND/OR LABORATORY EXPERIENCES:  None

VIII.  RESOURCES:
             The major resources for the course are the readings and the information presented by discussion leaders.  For additional help, discussion with your classmates and myself is strongly encouraged.

Relevant web sites:
          The Triple Helix: http://www.thetriplehelix.org/ ( a website developed by undergraduates, focuses on current ethical issues)
          Bioethics web log:  blog.bioethics.net
          The Bioethics Internet Project ( a great site for discussion and information):  www.bioethics.net
Fisheries:  http://golgi.harvard.edu/biopages/biodiversity.html
Fish and Wildlife Information Exchange:  http://www.fw.vt.edu/fishex/
EcoNet:  http://www.econet.apc.org/econet
EcoWeb:  http://ecosys.drdr.virginia.edu./EcoWeb.html
EnviroLink Network:  http://envirolink.org/
Department of the Interior's Natural Resources Library:  http://www.ios.doi.gov/nrl/
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service:  http://www.fws.gov/
International Information:  http://www.oneworld.org/panos/index.html
Biopolitics International Organization:  http://www.hol.gr/bio/web/html/biopolit.htm
World Conservation Monitoring Center:  http://www.wcmc.org.uk/
Sierra Club:  http://www.sierraclub.org
Natural Resources Defense Council:  http://www.nrdc.org
Association of Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics:  http://www.afseee.org
Bioethicsline, a database of 60,000 references regarding ethical issues:  http://guweb.georgetown.edu/nrcbl
Links to on-line resources for ethics:  http://outcast.gene.com/ae/21st/TL/TBE/resources2.html
The Human Genome Program: ethical and social issues:  http://www.ornl.gov/TechResources/Human_Genome/home.html
The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity:  http://www.cbhd.org
Bioethics Discussion Pages:  Http://www-hsc.usc.edu/~mbernste/index.html
Center for Bioethics Virtual Library:  http://www.med.upenn.edu/~bioethic
Midwest Bioethics Center:  http://www-midbio.com

             90 - 100     A - unusual ability and distinctive performance
             80 - 89       B - articulate, above average performance
             70 - 79       C - satisfactory performance
             60 - 69       D - passing work, below standard
             < 60           E - work not acceptable for passing credit

             Grades are based on the following percentages:

             Leadership assistance                                      14%
             Class participation                                            30%
             Journals on Issues  (x 4)                                   32%
             Quizzes                                                            14%
              Final Journal Analysis                                      10%
                                                                                     _____
                                                                                     100%

All written essays will be graded according to a specific rubric.

Your final journal must address the following:

• three topics covered during the semester (one must be human oriented and one must be non-human oriented)
• for each topic you must 1) state a relevant ethic that meets the formal conditions for an ethic, 2) justify your ethic, 3) describe at least one application of the ethic to a current biological issue, and 4) address counter arguments to your ethic and its application.

You are expected to actively participate in all discussions.  Cooperative work among students is strongly encouraged, particularly when you are in charge of preparing and conducting a discussion session. All assignments must be turned in by the assigned due date.  The only exception to this is in the event of a medical or other emergency.  Written documentation must be provided as evidence of such an emergency.  Late assignments will be penalized 10% per day late.

X.  ATTENDANCE POLICY:
             Students are expected to attend all scheduled course activities.

XI.  ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY:
             Cheating, plagiarism (submitting another person's  material as one's own, or doing work for another person which will receive academic credit) are all impermissible.  This includes the use of unauthorized books, notebooks, or other sources in order to secure or give help during an assignment, the unauthorized copying of examinations, assignments,  reports, or term papers, or the presentation of unacknowledged material as if it were your own work.  If substantial evidence exists for a violation of this policy, you will receive a grade of 'E' for the course.  Disciplinary action may be taken beyond the academic discipline that I administer in the course itself.  If you are unsure about the authorized use of any source of information, it is your responsibility to check with me prior to the use of that information.

XII.  TEXT AND REFERENCES:

Required Texts:
             Weston, Anthony.  2006.  A practical companion to ethics.  3rd edition. Oxford University Press.  New York.  94 pp.
             Mepham, B.  2008.  Bioethics: an introduction for the biosciences.  2nd edition. Oxford University Press.  New York.  386.

XIV.  NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT