(2013). Hope and Fear: The Theological Side of Framing Environmental Change. Ethics, Policy & Environment: Vol. 16, No. 2, pp. 152-155. doi: 10.1080/21550085.2013.801187.

Technologies allowing for the modifications of genes and gene expression are constantly expanding. With these technologies, comes the possibility of new treatments and cures for a number of serious diseases; however, they also pose serious ethical issues that must be addressed. One difficulty with discussing such dilemmas is that most people lack either the scientific or ethical foundations necessary to fully comprehend these issues. It will therefore be necessary for scientists and ethicists to discuss these matters and work together to (...) understand their implications. Herein, we describe a collaborative project that was conducted jointly between an upper-division chemistry class and a capstone ethics course. In this project, the chemistry students provided expertise regarding the technological background and current research applications of technologies related to the modification of genes and gene expression which they share with the ethics students. The ethics students then take this understanding and use it to provide information about ethical systems that can be used to help understand the implications of these technologies. We will describe the genesis of this assignment, the assignment itself, and student and faculty views on the efficacy of this collaborative learning opportunity. (shrink)