IS SCIENCE A THREAT TO HUMANITY?

DESIGNER BABIES

DEBATING ABOUT SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS

Advancements in science have occurred for thousands of years as far back as the Ancient Greeks (who many believe invented scientific principles), and their effects are becoming ever more pronounced.

Production has shifted to mechanized factories and even killing in warfare is being replaced in parts with unmanned drones.

The boundaries of medicine are being expanded with possibilities of cloning and stem cell research. Science has allowed acts that would otherwise be impossible for humans to consider undertaking. It has created previously unknown abilities to heal the sick or destroy all of humanity with Weapons of Mass Destruction.

This debate questions whether or not being able to undertake those acts is a benefit, and whether science does more to improve lives or harm them.

Designer babies are on the way. We're not ready

Technology, once thought to the the stuff of sci-fi movies, now allows us to pick and choose the genes that we want our children to have. But these advancements also create ethical dilemas, writes ...

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/16/opinions/gene-edit-dangers-opinion-klitzman/index.html

READING COMPREHENSION

Answer the following questions:

1/ Introduce the document: nature, title, author, date.

2/ Search for a possible definition of a Designer Baby

3/ Who is supposedly talking in the first paragraph? (from l.1 to l.3)

4/ How does he/she talk? (justify with quotes from the text)

5/ What does he/she want exactly?

6/ Who’s talking in the following paragraphs (l.5 to l.12)

7/ List all the vocabulary about reproductive technology in the article (10 words or expressions).

8/ What were the medical objectives of PGD at the beginning? (2 elements) 

9/ What is PGD used for in reality? (3 elements)

10/ What major issue does this document deal with?

11/ List the advantages and drawbacks (= disadvantages) or dangers of designing one's baby. Quote from the text to justify your answer.

VIDEO TIME

PART A : Pre-watching activities

« Gattaca » is a 1997 American science fiction film, written and directed by Andrew Niccol. The film presents a biopunk* vision of a future society driven by eugenics /juːˈʤɛnɪks/ (selective breeding) where potential children are conceived through genetic manipulation to ensure they possess the best hereditary traits of their parents.

* subgenre of science fiction that focuses on biotechnology.
    
The plot : Vincent is one of the last "natural" babies born into a sterile, genetically-enhanced world, where life expectancy and disease likelihood are ascertained /ˌæsəˈteɪnd/ at birth. When born, his genetics indicate a high probability of several health disorders and an estimated life span of 30.2 years. He has no chance of a career in a society that now discriminates against your genes, instead of your gender, race or religion.
His parents, Maria and Antonio, regretting their decision, use genetic selection to give birth to their next child, Anton.